Black Widow

by Nikki Turner

Bestselling author Nikki Turner returns with an explosive new novel about a woman at an emotional crossroads and the men left in her wake.
Isis Tatum knows firsthand the way love can mess up a person. After all, she saw her mother drive a truck through the home of her father's mistress before killing her dad. And ever since Isis was a teenager, her love life has been a series of disasters: Her first sweetheart was executed by the state of Virginia, and her next lover was sent to jail for murder.
Now Isis is a successful jewelry designer, but she remains a failure with men. When she meets Logic, a Las Vegas high roller who treats her like a princess, Isis reckons she's finally struck gold- literally. Logic sees to it that her custom pieces of jewelry are seen on the hottest rap stars and pro athletes. But when this Mr. Right ends up in jail too, Isis starts to believe that she's cursed, that she's a true Black Widow.
Always one to roll with the punches, she embraces her life and walks bravely down all its twisted paths, taking her business to unprecedented heights while letting the men who dare to get involved with her take their chances.

Genres: Urban, Fiction, African American, Romance

285 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

After Nikki Turner read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sistah Souljah she was dismayed that there weren't other books like it. "I wanted to write the kinds of books I wanted to read," said the bestselling author, whose 2002 debut novel, A Hustler's Wife, would go on to sell more than a few 100,000 copies.
While Nikki Turner's first two novels were published by a small publishing house in the Midwest, in 2004 she signed a 2-book deal with One World, an imprint of Ballantine Books, which is part of The Random House Publishing Group. After publishing the first book under that deal, The Glamorous Life in 2005 as well as a short story collection edited by Nikki, Street Chronicles: Tales from da Hood, One World quickly signed Nikki up for three more Nikki Turner Original novels and negotiated a deal with her for her own book line, Nikki Turner Presents. "I want to give new authors the same kind of opportunity I was given," said Nikki. "I want to produce authors who will be household names."

(Taken from author's website)

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when the men you love seem to fade out of your life?
It's the very question Isis Tatum was plagued with in Nikki Turner's riveting novel, BLACK WIDOW.

Isis' spiral began at age thirteen, when her mother killed her father. A once idyllic life became deadly with the loss of her young love, Dave to the State of Virginia, his boy Bam, who isn't as loyal as he appears. Isis had come to grips with the concept that any man within her reach would be destroyed.

Along comes Logic, who truly shows Isis what a Princess should live like...new address, new lifestyle; elevated to the highest amongst Miami's finest. But, there's always a price to be paid with such perks and the haters were gunning for the king to be dethroned.

True to her man and the game, Isis presses on and builds her business of the hottest jewelry any star could crave under the Black Widow spider logo. Even with Logic on lockdown, she manages to standfast in her journey, until family drama surfaces with her sister.

Turner has made her mark in the literary industry by mastering the art of capturing the reader from page one. It didn't take long to be in each an every scene she depicted. A benefit of reading her work is (being a resident of Virginia) and enjoying the famiiarity of specific places. Miami was well painted and I felt like I was in the locations described.

Continued success to the author for not falling short in the standard others strive to reach!

[Tish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OKAY. It felt very rushed. Isis is burying her so called love one minute and then is all up under his best friend the next week! I was just like who does that? But hey it is fiction.
Her character really pissed me off. Especially when Lotchee was introduced. Who calls in such a big favor from a stranger they met in the mall and barely had a full conversation with??? How could she not expect this man to think that she wanted him when she asked him for such a big favor? His character was just so random. I kept hoping she wouldn't be dumb and fall for him.
And then we never found out what happened to Bam. It was like once she moved to Miami, her issues with him dissipated. I thought he would continue to torture her and Logic would have to kill him, but no none of that happened!
Overall, the book wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. It was just okay.

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chick on the cover looks like Jay-Z old artist Amil. If they make this book into a mini movie she should play Isis. And finally I'm done , I was just up reading this book until the rain stopped. This was a decent read I bypassed this book for years because I was skeptical of it and now I'm glad I read it. Isis was a real loyal chick and at times too damn loyal to the wrong men...Aunt Sam had me crying

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think what keeps me going through a lot of these types of books is waiting for the women to gain their power and not allow the men to be walking all over them. That being said I was finding myself very frustrated with the main character and her swooning over her men and doing anything for them and remaining loyal when maybe circumstances dictated that the may not be a thing to do.
What I do like is not all things are predictable and people die who you think won't as they appear to be untouchable. I am always wondering if the people who are trustworthy actually are.
I enjoyed the read and appreciate when my body kicks in and becomes involved as well. At that point I know I am hooked.

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful. Rushed, disjointed, nothing flowed and no likable characters. I can't even sympathize with ? I can't even remember her name. Phoebe was a world class idiot. Who does that? Isis. That's her name. The coincidence with the fate of the men she dealt with wasn't believable to me at all. The psychic want believable to me at all and I believe there are true seers. This was just awful. I'll try A Hustler's Wife as there are rave reviews but I'm not expecting to be wowed.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than I thought I would, it's always interesting branching out to a new genre. Some parts weren't realistic, the ending was abrupt, and the characters were a bit superficial, but I really liked most of what was there. I love a good comeback story!

[MIAMOR ITAUMA]

IT SUCKS

[Emily Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I’m new to the genre of urban fiction and would definitely consider this a beach-read, it’s definitely no literary masterpiece and there are several typos. The protagonist Isis Tatum is a very strong woman with a very traumatic childhood where her father died in her arms once he was shot after being caught with a mistress by her mother. She suffers from daddy issues and a bad-boy complex as a result of it. She is also fiercely loyal and enabling to these bad boys who don’t treat her well, and she seems totally unaware of her tendency to choose bad boys one after the other. Maybe the author could have included her going to therapy for this lol? Also she is very materialistic, as are the men that she chooses who are basically drug lords and hustlers but it’s like she seeks those guys out for their money and access to expensive clothing and shoes, VIP treatment, fancy homes and luxurious vacations. Overall it was an ok book, it was entertaining for sure. I definitely see myself in some of Isis’ behaviors and I have sympathy for her. It’s cool that Isis turns out to be a really successful entrepreneur but I wish her man wasn’t so involved in the success of her business with his resources and powerful/famous contacts. It would have been neat to see a traumatized woman come back from the depths of despair and build her business herself.
The ending is kind of abrupt and she plans for revenge…but there is no sequel? Some trigger warnings for this book are domestic violence, miscarriage, drugs and murder.

[Jasmine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isis u are such a strong beautiful passionate woman i cried finding out u lost the love of your life due to jealousy u better get that slimy sleazy s.o.b back.Miss Turner since lootchee is connected with bambi do i read glamorous life to find out his fate and what about unique is she the sane unique in girls from the hood i need to know.all in all this was a real page turner im at work walking and reading thus book couldn’t get it off my mind.

[Jasmine Marie Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great and long awaited. Hoping for a sequel after waiting so long for it. I've followed her for so long and am never disappointed. Isis is a new favorite character for me. If you've never read Nikki Turner or an urban fiction novel you should check her out she's one of the greats.

[Chantell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about the unexpected! Niggas ain't shit & act like lil bi's when they can't have their way! Isis is the epitome of a Black woman & made the best out of every tragic. I didn't think that I would like this book, but I really did love it.

[Pat Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

This book was just too contrived. The repetitious falling for the same type guy and having the same results lacked creativity. The ending was lackluster and felt more like a deadline needed to be met.

[Latoshia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book

Great book. Isis has to have the worst luck when it comes to men. But I give her props. She did her thing and came out on top.

[Dysha Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was weird and all over the place.

[Carmaj3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good but the word play was confusing

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel I read by this author and it surely won’t be the last! This book was a definite page turner and I was so sad to see it come to an end. I can’t wait to read her other books!

[Jai Kemyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read.
I enjoyed this very much I hop it’s a part 2. It has to be

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

grate but hated the end I wanted more for ice

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

full of action, loveable main character.
ending was rushed. story needs a sequel.

[Tashema · Rating 5 out of 5]

had a funny beginning , book was pretty good

[Teaguem2005 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 in all honesty. This story flowed freely without any true dull spots. This is the tale of Isis, a child whose life was abruptly changed at the age of 13. As a psychic will someday share with her, 13 just isn't her number. While Isis is fiercely loyal, others in her life don't quite rise to her level. When her "savior" brutally attacks her when she tells him she is pregnant, her reaction is just so incredible that I don't think the author offered enough justification . I get the whole disassociation thing but jeez.

Isis does have other people in her life that are genuine like Samantha, Phoebe, and Logic, but the author didn't really elaborate on other characters introduced into the story. What's the backstory with Sly and Logic? Why is Lootchie so enamored with Isis? What's the deal with Unique? A few other questions remain unanswered as well which prompted me to deduct .5 from my rating.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading "Black Widow" by Nikki Turner. Man, was it good. I can't wait to read the next sequel to this story. It was entertaining and lots of action. I really enjoyed the character Isis Tatum. She went through a lot as a child at the age of 13 when she lost her father, who was killed by her mother after she found out that her husband had a second life and another child by another woman.

Isis's had several bad experience with men in her life; but it didn't stop her to achieving her dream to becoming a successful jewelry designer. That's all I'm going to say about the story, I don't want to give away any spoilers. Check out this author and her other books, you want be disappointed.

[Shà]

it was a good read but I didn't see the big hype behind it that people were making it out to be. it was pretty much predictable in a lot of ways & I did skip a couple chapters sometimes because it was a bit drawn out for my taste & too dramatic for no reason @ times. but I wouldnt reccoomend it to no one to read. she made the protogonist to be weak & stupid & i aint with it. it kind of turned me off a lot while reading this. she is not the best writer & she dosent scream support me like other authors such as booker t mattison, Dana Dane, wahida Clark, k',wan, Terri woods, Christian Keyes, Marlon mcclauskly, etc. #sorrynotsorry

[Lesa Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say how it ended I would love to see a part 2 to this. Book was good. I love all of Nikki Turner books but, this book don't beat most of her others.
Isis was mainly cursed as she said, everything bad just keep happening to her. Her dad was killed by her mom, her mom was in prison for killing her dad. She watches the love of her life die by the state. Her new boyfriend beat her baby out of her. Her sister ends up in jail. A man she went to for help kills her husband. She just felt she was cursed in so many ways. I am hoping there is a revenge sequel soon. Great book.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Widow is another great read by Nikki Turner. Since the age of 13, men have come & gone in Isis's life. Although she could have let those bad instances take her down, she decided to use them to her advantage. With the support of her husband & family, she turned her raw talent into a promising money maker. I enjoyed reading this book because it encourages one to look at the glass half full despite the circumstances.

[L.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read a Nikki Turner book since her very first, A Hustler's Wife. The reason I rated this a 3 is because of credibility issues. Ms. Turner's idea was a very creative one and I was looking forward to being thoroughly convinced that Isis could pull off becoming her alter ego--The Black Widow, but the end result was disappointing. The quick ending was like a hard smack to the face.

[Kay]

This book is really crazy and is very interesting. It also makes you think about life and things that are going on right now. In this book what will really stick out to you and will always be in your head is that everything happens for a reason.

[Kyaira Laren]

In this book the main character ISis feels cursed. She feels that all the men she loves are being taken from her.I Learned that she sticks to her word no matter what.Sticking to her word gets her into trouble but it also helps her get what she wants.

[Dionna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazinggggggg. First book I have read by her , she is very talented. There were many twists in the book and it kept me guessing throughout the whole novel. I have a few other books by her and I cannot wait to read it.

[Zaporha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Was sad only for one reason. Don't want to give the story away. But it was a good read. It flowed and I like the author's writing style. She didn't focus on a lot of small details only those that mattered.