Poison Promise

Elemental Assassin #11

by Jennifer Estep, Lauren Fortgang (Narrator)

11 hrs 8 mins

Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed "The Spider," she's a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There's a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name "Burn" sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…

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

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 22, 2014

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

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Some of us don’t appreciate such salty language.” My smile sharpened. “Sorry, ma’am,” I drawled. “But I can assure you that cursing is going to be the least of my sins today.”

Well at least we are back on track again after that entire book that was just one long flashback. Gin is now up against an emotion draining, drug dealing, mad scientist vampire so we are back on solid ground.

It’s been a busy year in Gins life. She’s killed a few bad guys, got her heart broken by one dude and fell in love with another. She discovered a deeper well to her magic and her skills and picked up a few friends along the way. She has also come out of the closet so to speak and now absolutely everyone knows she is the infamous assassin the Spider.

Well it is another day so it is time to go up against yet another bad guy. Benson isn’t just another Vampire drug dealer, he likes to play mad scientist and his new drug Burn that is out on the market seems to target people with Elemental magic and give them an even bigger high. He reminds me a little of a bond villain and can be a bit OTT at time but all in all he’s a pretty good villain.

Bria on the other hand shows just how like Gin she can be in her single minded craziness and maybe goes a little overboard but she is a woman on a mission to bring Benson and his drug empire down. Finn as ever never lets anything get to him. Not even the new wedge between his girlfriend and almost sister. He at least was the comic relief that this book needed.

“Aw, man,” Finn said, coming up to stand beside me, a black duffel bag dangling from his hand. “I didn’t even get to shoot anybody.” “Well, look on the bright side,” I drawled. “Your clothes didn’t get messed up. Neither did your hair.” Finn perked up at my reasoning.”

But the most interesting part of the book actually came in the last few chapters as it is revealed who Mab’s long lost relative is and what they’ve come to Ashland for.

All and all a decent recovery to what was for me a horrible last book. I’m really hoping that Gin and MMM have an interesting battle ahead since she seems like she might be more of a handful than even Mab was.

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

Since Gin took care of Mab, people trying to kill her have been coming out of the woodwork. So it's no surprise when she gets herself caught in the middle of a drug lord's operation. Now she just has to figure how to get out and keep herself and everyone else alive.

There is just no one like Gin...she takes a licking and keeps on ticking. LOL...sorry I had to do it but it's really true. It's always hard to read about her getting a beat down. Thank goodness for Jo-Jo.



And thank goodness for Owen. I love how he totally supports her now and is just there for her. They all just get it (yes, even Bria comes around).

And thankfully we have Owen for those steamy moments although this book could've used a few more since it was on the barely steamy side. :(

My favorite thing is Gin coming into her own. She's so much more than just The Spider but she's finding her way. It's hard to let go of something she's been for so long and she has to decide whether or not to embrace it....totally.

Of course, lots of shout outs to favorite characters such as Owen, Finn, Bria, Roslyn, Xavier, Jo-Jo, Sophia, Phillip and now....Silvio and Catalina. Those last two are some great additions.



I loved the big battle and how Gin took the initiative. I even think Fletcher would be proud.

Now onto the other drama and M.M.M. Well, there certainly were some big revelations but nothing that wasn't too hard to figure out. It will be interesting to see where JE goes with this since the next book is the last contracted one. It's either going out with a bang or we get to enjoy the ride for a while longer. Either way, I'm sure it will be amazing!



Favorite quotes

♥ “Well, look on the bright side,” I drawled. “Your clothes didn’t get messed up. Neither did your hair.”

♥ “Oh, man," Finn groaned through the receiver hidden in my ear. " Really, Gin, did you have to smash up the car? I'm starting to think that's some sort of fetish of yours."

"Maybe," I agreed in a cheery voice. " I do quite enjoy it.”

[Choko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with my UF assassins at BB&B! We meet every Wednesday and compare our silverstone knives....

It finally happened! A truly Machiavellian villain is making her play and starts by manipulating Gin and a crazy ass vampiric drug dealing boss bad guy into eliminating each-other, or at least one of them to get rid of the other for her, and whoever is left, well, she will see...

The problem is, Gin has become too predictable, thus allowing her friends and enemies to push her buttons in a manner which could be used for others' purposes... I have been expecting this sooner or later, and have been worried that every weakness, or strength of Gin's character, would become known to all as her visibility has grown and her anonymity is a thing of the past... Gin has been able to deal with all the attacks of her person, but she has gotten comfortable with enemies who come at her mostly straight ahead. She is not prepared for someone to play a deeper, more complex chess game with her... And the new player in town has been laying in wait and watching her for some time, learning the ways Gin reacts to different situations and weaving a web of evil and deceit that can catch even the Spider.

This book got back to the typical adrenaline inducing Spider books, after a slow and confusing book 10. We get to enjoy the full power of the supporting cast and especially my favorite snarky and wonderfully sarcastic pretty boy Finn. His girlfriend Bria acted a bit out of control, although it was understandable to a degree... Owen is back to being boyfriend of every girls' dreams, and Philip has their back. At the end of the book an old nemesis shows up again and proves once more that in this worlds' Ashland, sometimes is best to go around the laws and regular punitive system, and trust the good old "kill your enemies, or they will come back to haunt you" motto...

SO, I am expecting the series to go to an even higher level of villainy now that the gauntlet of war has been thrown down, so I can't wait to get into the next volumes!

I wish all of you Happy Reading and may you always find what you are looking for!

[Denisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, well, well. Gin is back, and she's just as great as she always is!


It's good to take a break from a series from time to time, it helps you remember why you liked it so much in the first place.

Gin is just as badass as she's been in all the previous books, and I can't help but love her sarcastic attitude. And the story is finally moving along, we find out who is this MM Monroe and we kind of see her kick Gin's ass this time.


I can't wait to see how she gets out of this mess and what this new character will do! The plot finally thickens, and I can't wait to see it unfold.

[Ferdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - Spoilers

Mediocre, similar to other books in the series, mostly filler… What let Poison Promise down most was the predictable story and insufferable characters. I guess it was entertaining to a certain extent, but as usual nothing surprising or exciting happened. The majority of characters pissed me off for various reasons (too dull, too irritating, too Mary Sueish), there were only a couple who were actually decent/likeable.

Random thoughts:

-I used to love Gin's character, she had attitude and backbone but in the last few books she's become a doormat and somewhat of a cliche. There was nothing fun or engaging about her, she was very boring and predictable in her every thought and action.
Even though she was meant to be a feared assassin, she mainly came across as a pushover and a huge Mary Sue who let everyone walk all over her. She was the most dullest assassin ever.

-Owen was as irritating as usual. He was still one of the worst and most unappealing love interests I've ever read… And that's saying something since I've read my fair share of rubbish heroes. I find it bizarre how every fucked up thing he did in the recent past was forgotten, he hurt Gin and broke her trust in many different ways yet they both acted like nothing happened, and instead were all lovey dovey with each other. It didn't ring true to Gin's character, she was meant to find it difficult to trust people, so for her to be sucked in by Owen after all his betrayals was nonsensical and made Gin look inconsistent and weak. Also, Owen suddenly acting like the perfect supportive/nice boyfriend was nauseating, it in no way made me forget his lying, cheating, choosing another woman over her, and him basically shrugging and not giving a shit when he thought Gin was dead.
His cool and uncaring attitude to Gin being kidnapped, tortured, and near death throughout the series just showed how little he cared for her. It was a shame Gin was too pathetic and desperate to see that Owen didn't give a fuck about her.

-I HATED Bria. What a horrid, hypocritical cow. The way she acted towards Gin and everyone else was appalling. She bitched about Gin being an assassin, was disgusted by her, and looked down at her even though she previously said she was fine with it. What pissed me off most was her telling Gin to stop interfering in her police work as she wanted to do things legal and above board… So when Gin respected Bria's request, instead of being grateful, Bria had a hissy fit and shouted at Gin for not assassinating the bad guy she previously told Gin not to assassinate. Ugh, she was such a contradictory, holier than thou, hypocritical wanker.
What Bria really wanted was Gin to clean up all her messes by whatever means necessary even if it meant Gin had to kill loads of people and risk her life, and at the same time Bria also wanted to look down at her in disgust for being a killer. She wanted the best of both worlds — an assassin sister at her beck and call, and an assassin sister she was ashamed of, could bitch about, and act morally superior to. The cow.

-Bria's crappy character made me dislike both Gin and Finn's character even more just for putting up with her bitchiness and letting her get away with her vile attitude… Neither of them really stood up to her, I was waiting for Gin to properly stand up for herself and tell her some home truths but she never did, she just took all Bria's bullshit and then forgave and forget. Was Gin being a doormat meant to make her more likeable or something? It just made her come across like an insufferable Mary Sue martyr.

-Another thing that frustrated me about Gin was her always feeling guilty about things she didn't need to feel bad about… Like when she was forced to take drugs by the bad guy she started having bitchy thoughts about her loved ones for all of a minute… And then afterwards she felt oh so bad about having those thoughts even though she'd been drugged up and hadn't been in her right mind and barely thought badly of them. Really? Why the hell would anyone feel bad about having the odd bitchy thought about friends/family? Especially if they were the result of drugs they were forced to take. Literally EVERYONE has the occasional bitchy thought about loved ones (and that's when they're not even bloody high), it's not a big deal and it's nothing to feel guilty about… Yet Mary Sue Gin felt all bad for deigning to have a couple of negative thoughts about those closest to her. Give me a fucking break.

-The world was fairly interesting and easy to immerse into but it was also rather stagnant… It hadn't expanded or become any richer since the first book.

-I wish Gin would stop referring to Owen as her lover and Bria as her baby sister, it was so cringey and repetitive.

-What on earth did Finn see in the hypocritical shrew that was Bria? Why does he even like her? I can't see any reason why he wants her more than any other woman he's dated in the past. Well, except for the fact that she just so happens to be Gin's sister.

-The M. M. Monroe reveal was underwhelming, after waiting for 3 books to find out who it was, they just turned out to be a poorer/crappier version of Mab. It was so anti-climactic.

-I expect the next book will be the same as usual… The new baddie will target Gin or someone close to her, Gin will fight them and get hurt in the process, then she'll recover and fight them again, and at the last minute she'll win but not without being bloodied and bruised… Of course, all of Gin's loved ones will survive. No-one will die expect for the baddie or some new character.
It'd be good if someone close to Gin (like Finn, Bria, JoJo, Owen, or Roslyn) actually died instead of them always surviving.

All in all, Poison Promise wasn't spectacularly awful but it certainly wasn't good either… I did like that it was a fast, easy, and somewhat distracting read but it was let down by the run of the mill villain of the week type plot and the uninteresting and insipid characters.

[If it ain't good I don't read it ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh... Okay

I thought the series was done but if this is the case.....



Do continue Jennifer Estep. By all means

Edit: OMG shit just got real!!

- 5 stars

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good installment in the series!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

13/07/2016 Buddy read with my fellow UF addicts over at BB&B. Wednesdays have definitely become my favorite part of the week thanks to our weekly UF buddy read. May it never end.

I was tired of constantly fighting for my life—of all the blood and battles and bodies that just never seemed to end.
But I would never, ever get tired of protecting the people I loved.

No good deed goes unpunished, and Gin gets caught in an evil vampire’s snare when she tries to save one of her waitresses, Catalina, from being hurt by an ex. Beau Benson is the vampire drug kingpin, who has just released a new designer drug, Burn, that is wildly popular in Ashton. It’s very potent, especially for elementals. And Bria is the detective on the case, intent on bringing Benson to justice. And because Gin can’t have Bria and Catalina in danger, she’s determined to take care of Benson.

But Benson is no weak villain. He’s very powerful, with a magic that was very creepy but so fascinating. He has the ability to feed on people’s emotions, and can intake their energy/magic thereby making him stronger. And he thinks of himself as a scientist, experimenting on others to improve Burn.

“The Grim Reaper has come knocking on your door, and I’m here to make sure that he doesn’t go away disappointed.”

This book was so good. I loved all the action, the shoot outs, the car chase. Once again Gin sacrificed herself for those she cared for and I was so worried for her. The things Benson did to her, the experiment with the drug was so damn scary.. The villain Benson was very disturbing but also very interesting with his unusual power, and I enjoyed watching Gin and her family and friends fighting against him.

Things with Bria wasn’t as smooth as always, because Bria is a lot like her sister, taking responsibility for those under her care and when they get hurt because of her, she takes it very personally. And in this book her need for revenge against Benson clouded her judgement, she didn’t care who she had to use to get justice. And although I struggled with her actions, I did understand where she was coming from. Luckily she did come to her senses eventually and then had Gin’s back like she always does.

I must say Gin seems to get stronger with every book, which I’m very happy about because she’s going to need all the power she has to take out MM Monroe. I also loved that Gin finally showed everyone just how powerful she really is, and I’m quite excited to see how things are going to play out now. Gin might not want to be the queen of the underworld, but I’m thinking it might just be a very big possibility in the future…..

Finally we meet MM Monroe, and this relative of Mab makes her look tame by comparison. I have no idea how Gin is going to win against this evil villain with freaking ACID MAGIC and her sidekick, who is set on destroying Gin, the famous Spider, and everyone she cares about in order to take over Ashland’s underworld. And once again Gin is going to have to fight against 2 very powerful forces and asshole Jonah McAllister is again going to be a thorn in Gin’s side. Hopefully this time she will kill him.

“Yes, well, you know quite a bit about loss yourself, don’t you?” Silvio murmured. “Murdered family, murdered mentor, and then, of course, all the people you’ve killed yourself. Death seems to follow you around, Ms. Blanco.”
I grinned, but the expression was sharper than the knife in my hand. “Maybe because he knows that I’ll be leaving behind a lot of folks for him to escort over to the other side.”

I’m also VERY excited about a new character, Silvio Sanchez, who I think is going to be very good for Gin in the future.

Like my friend Choko says, we love reading this series because of the amazing secondary characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love Gin and how kickass and bloodthirsty she is and the way she gives everything she is too protect her loved ones, but what makes this series so addictive and awesome is all of her family and friends who are always there to support her, and to have her back. And as always they were so wonderful in this book!

“Actually, I love pissing people off. Important people, rich people, dangerous people. I’m an equal-opportunity pisser-offer. You know why?”
“Why?” He asked the inevitable question.
“Because the bigger and tougher they think they are, the more they bleed. Just like you will.”

I really love this series, and buddy reading it just makes it even better. This is quite an addictive UF series, which might have its rocky moments with all the repetitive writing in the beginning, but that just shows you how captivating it is, because after 11 books it solidly has its hooks in me, and I will keep coming back for more bloodthirsty action with my favorite assassin and her fantastic cohorts. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Estep created a nail biting page turner in Poison Promise.

There is a new drug in town and its causing havoc not just with the norms but the the magical as well. Caught up in her sisters desire for retribution, Gin has to pull out all the stops to fight a new “bad” that has links to an even nastier surprise that will be coming for Gin.

We get to see an entirely different side to the pleasant police officer, Gin's sister Bria, and it doesn't seem to matter what it costs as long as she gets her revenge. Bria's new attitude puts Gin in peril more than once.

Poison Promise flat out hits that perfect paranormal reading spot...you know what I'm talking about. The book that keeps you up into the wee-hours because you just can't put it down.

I am anxiously waiting for Black Widow, book #12 in the Elemental Assassin Series. It looks like the new nasty might just be more than Gin can handle. Good thing she has such marvelous back up to lean on.

I have the privilege to read this ARC copy of Poison Promise from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books - in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication July 22, 2014.

Written by: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin
Page Count: 416 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: July 22, 2014
ISBN-10: 1476771502
ISBN-13: 978-1476771502
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy
Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent action packed adventure for the assassin with a heart of gold. Word of warning: don’t read these books when you’re hungry as Ms Estep and Gin Blanco are both equally obsessed with food!

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not often that a series gets better and better with each subsequent book. Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassins series is one such series. Reading Poison Promise (book 11!!!) was like reconnecting with old friends. I love the world that this author has built. The town of Ashland is corrupt, its officials are on the take, the bad guys are vying to fill in a power vacuum – this is one interesting place. In the center of it all stands Gin Blanco, aka The Spider, a very efficient assassin and an even better cook.

Gin is one badass assassin. She’s tough, she’s snarky, she’s lethal, and she cares about her family. I like how Gin tries to keep her life as normal as possible. She’s attending community college, taking a course on spy literature, and she surrounds herself with a fantastic support network: her family and friends. To keep it real, Gin continues to work at her restaurant, The Pork Pitt.

Poison Promise might just be the best book so far in the series. It was action packed, full of exciting scenes, bullets flying, and general mayhem. I just could not put this book down.

I think that what makes this series so much fun to read is the diversity of characters in this world. There’s vampires, giants, dwarfs, and elementals in addition to the regular human folk. The elemental magic is different from what I’ve seen in other series.

Then there’s the men of this series. Yes, Owen is still around, but you’ll need to read the book for more info. Gin’s sexy foster brother Finnegan Lane is a perfect backup for Gin. I loved how he got Gin her very own silver Aston-Martin to wreck. Silvio was a good addition to the cast as well. I can’t wait to see him in the next book.

If you have not yet had a chance to start this series, I’d recommend you start with the first book. For those of you who may have stopped reading the series, the writing has improved significantly and the repetition has been greatly reduced.

I can’t wait for the next book – Black Widow due out November 2014.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pocket Books for a review copy of this book.

[Anna (Bobs Her Hair) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Gin sees enemy.
Enemy threatens her family or innocents.
Gin packs her silver stone knives.
Slice and dice...yadda yadda yadda.

I think I've become tired of this series. With the defeat of her main enemy, I've been waiting for another grand villain. There've been hints, but usually an Ashland bad guy I know Gin will defeat. This book felt like all the others and it was not as fulfilling to read as past books have been. Yet, this time Gin does not walk away unscathed. She suffers beyond the normal cut, bruises, and burns. Gin gets a bit broken. Not rape.. It was unexpected and poignant.

Finally, the power vacuum left by Mab is addressed. It has the potential to reenergize this series. The cast of characters expand and shake things up in Gin's world. I'm hopeful.

[Maria Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weekly buddy read with the bloodthirsty assassin-loving folks over at BB&B . I love you, guys!


We're back on track after that horrible flashback book *shudders*. It's time for Bria to be in the limelight. Unfortunately not in a good way. This time around detective Bria Coolidge was acting like a real psycho maniac. Her total disregard for other people's lives was so out of character that it was almost comical. Thankfully it didn't feel artificial just a bit forced. After all she is Gin's sister so that obsessive behaviour typical for the Spider could be attributed to their genetics. In a few short chapters Bria had gotten on my nerves and managed to alienate all her friends and hurt her sister's feelings repeatedly. Eventually she got to redeem herself and even save Gin's life. Usually it's the other way around but the change of MO was appreciated.

The main villain was the drug lord of Ashland with the unspellable name of Beauregard (I had to Google it to spell it right!) Benson. What's with the same initials for almost everyone in this city??? Anyway, he's a slimeball that fancies himself a scientist. As a scientist-in-training (aka PhD student) this pissed me off. Sure we're crazy and some of us have morbid fascination with death and drug effects but still. Fine maybe he's not that far off *pouts*. So Beau is the object (I use object deliberately because that thing does not deserved to be in the same category as any living thing) of fixation for Bria, who is determined to bring him in for all his crimes. But since this is Ashland, the city where corruption runs amok and the judicial system and the law enforcement is a joke at best, things aren't progressing to her satisfaction. And when one of her informants is found dead with a rat stuffed in his mouth and Bria's rune drawn on his forehead she takes it personally. BB has a special ability that reminds me of the Anita Blake universe where a lot of the vamps can feed on emotions as well as blood. And that's precisely what BB is doing with his victims. It's an awful way to die and Catalina, one of Gin's waitresses, witnesses an execution of an old friend of hers. Bria convinces her to testify and Gin gets involved trying to save everyone from their own stupidity. Ultimately it comes down to a showdown between Gin and BB and once again our favourite assassin wins the fight.

But that's just the opening salvo of the war we've been waiting for since the announcement of Mab Monroe's will. Finally we met the mysterious triple M. And she happens to be Mab's daughter (no surprise there me and my fellow buddy readers managed to guess that). Her daddy however was a surprise - Elliot Slater. I thought that Mab will have more taste. And now this MM Monroe is threatening all of Gin's friends and family. And she seems to be a real badass. Or at least a Queen Bitch. I can't wait for Gin to slit her throat :)

Another new addition to the gang is the vampire Silvio who worked for BB at the beginning of the book but turned coat and went to Gin to hire her. He's a fascinating character and worth keeping an eye on. I would love to see a battle of who is better at finding dirt and info on people between him and Finn. Maybe Finn finally has some competition. But he will always be number one in my heart. As usual the supporting cast was awesome even if most of them only got a few pages here and there or just mentions. But the gang is always there and has Gin's back. And that's the real reason why I love this series. Gin alone, while fascinating, wouldn't have been able to hold my interest for so long,, especially considering some of her more idiotic moments. So cheers for Gin's extended family!

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love this book of Gin as much as I have others, it was good but not as gripping as I'm used to, however, the final showdown between Benson and Gin were pages well worth turning!

Gin and Bria (Gin's sister) are not seeing eye to eye at the start of Poison Promise and I felt frustrated for Gin, considering everything she has done for her little sister. Gin is taken hostage and Bria feels responsible for the torture that Gin endures - rightly so! Mobiles are there to answer!

Anyway, as the novel presses on, we discover that old enemies end up flaring up here and there but it's not until after that showdown that we find out who these enemies actually are, which lays a path to plow through the Black Widow, 12 in the Elemental series.

Like I said, I didn't love this book as much as the others but it's definitely worth the 4 starts awarded and I have to say, any book by Jennifer Estep is worth reading!

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

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

The ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series started in 2010, and I discovered it in 2012, so it seems crazy to me that although we’ve reached the eleventh installment, only one year has gone by for Gin Blanco since it all began in SPIDER’S BITE. She’s about to celebrate her 31st birthday, and in many ways this book felt like a new beginning. There were some seriously badass scenes in POISON PROMISE, mad scientist villains are always super creepy, and two additional paranormal elements are introduced which all added-up to one exhilarating read. However, there was also a lot of déjà vu in this novel (that annoying stick that was up Bria’s butt in the earlier days is once again firmly lodged in place) that was cause for some concern. Jennifer Estep hasn’t steered me wrong yet, so I’m going to wait and see what she has planned, but I do have my doubts.

It’s no secret that I’m an action junkie through and through, and this latest installment DEFINITELY delivered on this front. As an assassin, Gin typically does her best work in the shadows, but in POISON PROMISE she boldly shouts to the world that she is indeed The Spider. That was my #1 scene in this book; you’ll know it when you read it. My second favourite was when she uses her Aston Martin as a battering ram. OMG Pure awesomeness. Those two stellar sequences aside, the plot’s great; I always look forward to Estep’s villains, and she does not disappoint with Beauregard Benson. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of what a Burn trip is like from an Elemental’s POV, and the twist at the end was well-done.

This is probably going to turn into a paragraph long rant about Bria, but it couldn’t really be avoided because she is the main reason why I’m giving this novel four stars instead of five. I really hated her character in the earlier installments of this series, and now here she is back on her stupid high horse. I understand that she’s blinded by revenge and seeing red, but she’s still a cop, and has sworn to serve and protect. Now, all of a sudden she’s willing to sacrifice an innocent witness’ life, and quite possibly her sister’s as well? Bria needs wake-up, to stop judging Gin, and either arrest her or shut it. I wanted to slap her.

I love that this series continues to surprise me; Estep has added two new paranormal elements to her ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN world. I’m not sure revealing them in my review is overly spoiler-y, but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone so I’m just going to say that my interest is definitely piqued. A new character has also joined Gin’s crew, so it’ll be interesting to see how Silvio Sanchez fits in with this close knit group. I have a feeling that big things are in store for The Spider now that she’s gone public; I just hope that the déjà vu doesn’t take over the main story line. I’m extremely wary of Mab Monroe 2.0.

My mini Bria rant aside, POISON PROMISE is an action junkie’s dream, and another winning installment from Jennifer Estep.

[Steffi au Penguinbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was wäre mein Leben ohne Gin Blanco?

Elf Bücher und ich bin weiterhin begeistert von dieser Reihe. Zwischenzeitlich, zwischen Band 7-9 ist die Reihe in ein kleines Tief gefallen. Trotzdem hat Jennifer Estep es geschafft mich so lange für diese Reihe zu begeistern. Klar, die Grundstruktur/der Verlauf ist jedes Mal gleich, dennoch bin ich immer wieder überrascht was für Gegner Estep nun herzaubert.

4 stars

[SoWrongItsRANDI {Bell, Book & Candle} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I finally got my hands on this book! The wait is over.



In Book 11 of the Elemental Assassin series, all Gin Blanco, aka "The Spider", wants is for the criminal underworld to leave her alone. But that all changes when a new, powerful drug is distributed on the streets. With the drug kingpin gearing up to take control of the corrupt city and stomp out "the Spider" at the same time, Gin certainly has some serious work ahead of her. But Gin is the assassin "Spider", and she has the patience to wait out her enemies to deliver the fatal strike.

Okay so my actual rating is 4.5 stars. I have to say that Jennifer Estep seems to be getting better with each book of this series. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series. I like how she briefly, yet effectively describes events that happened prior to this book for those who haven't read the previous books. There was a nice pacing in the story, and the action was very engaging. It was the perfect blend of action, romance, paranormal and comedy all wrapped up in one. The ending was kind of like...



I'm definitely ready for more.

Characters
Gin Blanco: I love, love, LOVE how feisty she is. One of my favorite things about this series, is her. Saying "I love a strong female protagonist" is the understatement of the century. She's her usual witty, brave, open-a-can-of-whoop-ass self that I have always enjoyed. And every time she defeats someone, I imagine her saying..




Finn: OMG he is the comic relief of the series! He never fails to make me laugh every time. I need a Finnegan Lane in my life.


"You have reached the always awesome, ever charming, and obscenely handsome Finnegan Lane," he chirped nin my ear. "How may I be of service to you today?"



Owen: Gin's ongoing love interest. I love how supportive he is of her. Also how he seems to know exactly what she needs.


"Well," he said, "I thought we would stay in and have a quiet evening. You, me a nice dinner, perhaps some quality time watching
TV in my bedroom."
"Watching TV? Really?"
"Well, if you absolutely insist, we can skip the TV-viewing portion of the evening,"



JoJo and Sophia: Love the loyalty and love they show Gin. They're like her cheerleaders, but not quite as perky.


Bria: Ugh.. She irritated me in this one.


Pros
Great Action
Lovable Characters
Nice Story development
Good writing


Cons
Cant really think of any


This is the official end of my rant.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading Poison Promise I was a bit disappointed. I still don’t know why exactly, I just can’t put my finger on it, but it felt like something was lacking. The pace was painfully slow and the whole thing was a bit boring really. I never thought I would say that about this series. It didn’t help that Owen wasn’t around much. After what happened in the last instalment I thought that we would get to see more of him, not less (granted, he is more present in the second part of the book and we get one steamy scene so I can’t complain!). About Gin & Owen: I thought it was very strange that there was absolutely no talk about the aftermath of Salina’s death and the events in Heart of Venom. I know that they have worked out their differences but what happened between them was such a huge deal that I was surprised that it wasn’t mentioned here. Oh well, that’s a minor quibble really.

The good news is, the book gets a lot better once Bria starts letting her inner self-righteous bitch out (she definitely acts a bit Donovan Caine-ish here)! It definitely spices things up, gets the story going and turns Poison Promise into a pretty amazing story! Although I didn’t enjoy the book initially I now think it is one of my favourite in the series. Yes, it is that good!

It’s hard to talk about the story without revealing too much but there is so much awesomeness here: Gin now drives an Aston Martin (I know it’s silly, but to me a female assassin + an Aston Martin = so cool!), the sick bastard/evil kingpin in residence doubles up as a note-taking mad scientist, a very cool character is introduced (Silvio, can’t wait to see more of him), Bria finally saves Gin’s ass for a change…

And Gin, oh Gin is just so cool. She is tired of hiding out in the Pork Pit, waiting to figure out who will try and murder her next. She no longer fights in the shadows but faces her enemies in broad daylight. Gin’s going public as the Spider makes for some of the best action scenes Estep has ever written for this series: when she rams the brand-new Aston Martin to force a road-block (freaking awesome!), when she uses Owen’s hammer to smash Benson’s beloved Bentley to pieces (ha!), when she finally fights Benson in the middle of the street and in broad daylight with half of Southtown watching and cheering her on (wow!). As fantastic as the action scenes are, I think my #1 favourite scene is the one that takes place at the Benson mansion (when Gin is tortured by Benson). It’s definitely one of the most gut-wrenching, nerve-wrecking scene in this series so far. Absolutely brilliant!

Despite its slow, underwhelming beginning, Poison Promise is pretty amazing. Gin finally embraces her badassery in broad daylight which makes for one of the best instalments in this series so far.

Now, do I really have to wait for two whole months before the next book is published??? Why, oh why?!

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review, 4.5 stars

The joy of reading a long running series is the attachment I feel toward the characters. I love Gin and her friends. I love her overwhelming need to protect them. Each book brings a spotlight to one of those relationships. This time we, the reader, get a little more into the dynamics between Gin and her sister, Bria. Jennifer Estep does a fantastic job of revealing the love, competition, resentment, and admiration in a relationship between older and younger sisters. I don’t know if she has a sister, but she nailed this one on the head. This struggle happens all within the context of Gin battling an evil gangster and the emergence of a new super villain.

Beauregard Benson is flooding the streets of Ashland with a new drug called Burn. It’s highly addictive and seems to affect Elementals especially hard. Benson is not a new criminal in Ashland, but he is making his move to become a big player. Benson is not only a drug pusher, but considers himself a scientist noting with Mengele-like eeriness the pain and suffering as he pumps the drugs into his subjects.

Bria is desperate to bring Benson down and the stress brings certain emotions to the surface. Being on opposites side of the law, she and Gin have a conflicted relationship already and the pressure of this pursuit results in a painful confrontation for both. This is not the first time they have clashed, but this one is unexpected considering things are going well between them. Gin is different too. She is tired of constantly looking over her shoulder and fighting for her life. Her weariness makes her think twice about engaging with Benson.

As this conflict resolves, a new one emerges. We learn the identity of M.M. Monroe. This sets up a whole new set of challenges for Gin and for me, restarts the series. M.M. Monroe promises to be a worthy adversary for our beloved Gin and I am looking forward to this epic conflict.

IN A NUTSHELL:
A fantastic addition to the Elemental Assassin series, Poison Promise is a heart-satisfying story with dramatic turns and suspense. Highly recommended.

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

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Gin wants is to be known as the owner of the Pork Pit, home to Ashland's best BBQ. Unfortunately she can't shake off her other title, The Spider, the assassin who killed underworld king-pin Mab Monroe. Now every two bit hood who wants to make a name for himself is gunning for her and she spends as much time dealing with them as serving pulled pork and coleslaw.

When she stumbles onto one of her waitresses being threatened by a drug dealer and his goons she steps in and makes short work of them, but it soon becomes apparent she's bitten off a little more than even she can chew. Now she has come to the notice of Beau Benson, a sadistic vampire who doesn't just drink blood, he sucks the very life force out of his victims, feeding on their fears and insecurities. And he sees her as the perfect guinea pig to test out his new drugs on.


Poison Promise is book 11 in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin. It should be getting old. I should be pointing out recycled plots.

I'm not.

Her last few books are easily the best in the series. Heart of Venom (book #9) is a stand out as my personal favorite, but Poison Promise is definitely in the running for the silver medal.

This whole series is brash and violent. It's unapologetically in your face. It's great fun for lovers of urban fantasy.

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

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this Elemental Assassin story more than I have any installment in a long time. The series hasn’t been the same for me since Widow’s Web, for a number of reasons. I’ve had serious issues with romantic arc. And we’ve been missing a villain of Mab Monroe’s caliber for Gin to face. The stories have felt more like standalones, not building toward anything. Frankly, I was just losing interest. Until now.

In the wake of Mab’s death, Gin has been trying to keep a low profile, but the bad guys of Ashland have been targeting her, trying to make a name for themselves by taking out the Spider. Obviously in Ashland, evil equals stupid, because everyone underestimates her and ends up dead. Anyway, this time around, Bria is more of a target than Gin. She’s been trying to take down a big-time drug dealer and he’s had just about enough of her interference. He takes out one of her informants, essentially making her more determined than ever to put him behind bars. She’s even willing to put a potential witness at risk to get her conviction. But Gin isn’t about to let anyone get to her baby sis –or her young waitress who witnessed Benson’s crime. So she ends up right in the middle of the brewing war with a powerful vampire who can suck the emotion (and life) out of anyone he touches.

I guess I am finally over the Owen thing. His character took a real hit for me for several books. But Jennifer Estep seems to have put all of his stupidocity behind him and let him be a good boyfriend again. If I let myself think about it, I still get mad, but the Owen in this story is back to the supportive and generous man I Gin fell in love with. This is a good thing, since Bria takes a major step backward, landing firmly back in the selfish immature bubble where we saw her in By a Thread. I wanted to jump in the book and smack her in the face. I question how she could show such utter disregard and frankly, unkindness, to a sister that she has been building a relationship for all of this time. I get her focus and determination, but callousness to those that love her is not ok. And I am never down with people hurting Gin’s feelings.

There are two things I really liked about this story. The first is that I felt like we’re rebuilding a big picture. True, we haven’t seen Benson before, but he ties into the structure of the underworld and sets us up with the Big Bad we’ve been waiting for. Our villains come full circle and I like where Estep is going here. The second, it’s just ultimately so empowering for Gin. As always, she has to endure some pretty hard knocks achieve victory (and I cursed Bria’s name the whole time) but I loved the climax and what it means for Gin’s future.

I have stayed with this series, even when it disappointed me, because Gin is such a great character. I love her balance of strength and vulnerability. I love the way she protects people the way no one but Fletcher ever protected her. How she is willing to sacrifice herself, not only for those she loves, but for the innocent. How she can kill without blinking an eye. Yet she still struggles with insecurities and a desire to be loved that’s deeper than she even realizes.

It’s not perfect. Other than Bria’s regression, I found myself kind of annoyed with the repetition. I feel like we hear in every book how Gin takes “her little white pills” but she and Owen use condoms just to be safe. Just put the condom on, for crying out loud. And I think Estep worked in the term “poison promise” three times, which was twice too many.

But overall, I liked it. And I am actually kind of excited to see what’s going to happen next.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by Pocket Books

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! Toxic good fun! No longer feared, Gin is now revered, and finally getting the due she deserves! Well that's not entirely true... only by the people she doesn't plan on killing.

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I loved everything about this book! Eleven books in and this series is still going strong, and building up steam for what I'm guessing is going to be an amazing conclusion at some point, hopefully not to soon though. Let the smack-downs begin, or at least more of them!

Jennifer Estep has quite the imagination and all of her villains are very unique. They torture and kill their victims and it's always deliciously gruesome, and the evil entity in Poison Promise was right up there with the best of them. Sick, right? No, it's what I expect in an Urban Fantasy read and this author always delivers in a big way.

When Gin dishes out her own brand of punishment and revenge, well, I'm giddy with glee! Kick-ass doesn't even begin to describe Gin, she's the assassin that keeps on giving...a knife to the back, a slash to the throat, a stab to the chest...good times I tell you, good times!

The entire gang gets into the act and whenever that happens things get really interesting. In this case they all ban together to get their girl Gin out of a very lethal situation. Finn...sexy, charming sniper in a suit, he's so adorable when he's protecting his foster sister, usually by pumping bullets into the bad guys. Such a lovely way to express love for your sibling. Oh, and the delicious Owen...I love how he steps back and lets Gin do her thing, but doesn't hesitate to jump into the fray when his woman needs him. Who wouldn't love a guy that respects what you do, doesn't judge, but would kill for you?! They were all here...Bria, Xaviar, Sophia, Jo-Jo, Roslyn, Phillip, Eva...made this read extra special, because when they come together and fight for their girl...watch out!

Jennifer Estep has finally learned not to reiterate so much of the back story, just a brief overview here and there, she stuck to the plot at hand in Poison Promise and it was fantastic! Urban Fantasy series are not something you can jump into in the middle of, you have to start at the beginning and most readers are already familiar with the events surrounding the story and characters, so a gentle reminder is fine, but it can be annoying when past events are re-hashed over and over. I'm pleased to say, that was not the case here.

A fantastic new character was introduced and I think he is going to be very important and essential in helping Gin find her place, or quite possibly her throne in the community! Big changes are coming to Ashland and Gin is at the forefront of it all!

This series ticks all my perfect Urban Fantasy buttons and I can't recommend it enough!


*A copy of the book was provided by Pocket Books via NetGalley*

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is the 11th book in the Elemental Assassin series and they show no signs of getting stale. This installment is more of a warm-up for the next one I fear though since we actually get to meet MM Monroe for a few pages but that is not the villain for this novel but it does give you an idea of what Gin is going to be up against.

Let us get back to what THIS book is about, Gin through a series of somewhat seemingly random events runs afoul of a local drug lord named Benson and while he is a vampire and commands a large criminal army it is a special power of his that make him a dangerous foe for Gin.

This book we see a bit of family strife between Bria and Gin, a new friend and what looks to be a new permanent addition to Gin’s entourage. I can’t say too much more than that without being spoilerish and I stay away from spoilers.

There is a new drug on the streets called Burn and it is making Benson a lot of money, Gin and Bria are both looking to put an end to him and his business. The job is easier said than done and it is not going to be neither easy nor painless.

This may be the first novel in awhile that her love life seem to be actually approaching something normal and steady which I think is long overdue since her love life has been in shambles in most of the novels in this series.

Bottom Line: It is the Elemental Assassin, bad guy shows up, threatens somebody she cares for; little blood on both sides and bad guy has a really, really bad day. This novel is saved from reading like a formula from other books by some interesting side interests and the addition of a couple of interesting new characters. The manner of the culminating conflict is a bit new also, I liked it; hope to see more of it. I have to give it 4.5 Stars and almost want to lower it to 4 because I suspect the next one is going to be really great and I am running out of stars but that would not really be fair to this book.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleventh in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and revolving around a "retired" assassin.

If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Elemental Assassin books on my website.

My Take
Part of the story revolves around Finn and the always birthday party he insists on. Another part revolves around Gin's sister as Gin discovers that little sister is not all that accepting of Gin's secret role.

A fact that rears up a very ugly head when Gin reports a murder. Bria's lost someone she owed, and now she's taking it out on everyone, but especially on Gin. It's a nasty switch for Gin, to see the ugly on her sister's face. To realize where that look comes from. It does lead to Xavier really tearing into Bria. Does a good job of pointing out what a hypocrite she is! But it's not working and Bria is so incredibly careless.

We get a bit more on Roslyn's background. How she got out of the life and opened Northern Aggression. Some scary stuff, there.

As for Gin versus Beauregard, it's a battle of calm, for Beau needs, wants, is addicted to the fear and terror of his potential victims. For Gin, it's a battle against her better nature and her fear for her family, how tired she is of battling the would-be assassins around every corner.

"'You can't just keep killing people for free. Pro bono is not a phrase that is in the Finnegan Lane vocabulary.'

'Oh, no,' I drawled. 'But greedy, shameless hustler certainly is.'

'Damn skippy.'"

I do love Gin's feistiness. She won't let anything get her down. She'll even use the torture to discover a new release and insight into herself.

We also learn a bit more about Gin's life on the streets, and it's her reflection on one particular incident that makes Gin realize how wrong she's been.

Gin's rep is on the line, and I do love how she turns that around. Whew… Estep keeps getting Gin into some tricky situations, and it's such a treat to see how Estep gets her back out again.

Pant, pant, gotta catch my breath… It's this story that sets up Black Widow , 12. Unfortunately for me, I missed Poison Promise somehow, so I can tell you from experience: Do NOT read these out of order. It's very confusing. I found myself questioning events and characters throughout, trying to figure out where they fit into the later story I had read too soon.

The Story
It's a drug-pushin' ex-boyfriend who brings Gin's attention to a new drug setting Ashland a'fire while a new elemental magic user wielding a completely new type of magic gets Gin's curiosity up and running.

But it's the threat to family that raises Gin's ire.

The Characters
Gin Blanco, who has Ice and Stone elemental magic, is turning thirty-one, perpetual student and do-gooder, and the retired assassin known as the Spider. Fletcher Lane was her mentor who died a year ago and left her the restaurant. Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland's few good cops, is her baby sister with a gift for Ice, who somehow survived their childhood slaughter. The flirtatious, very well-dressed Finn Lane is Fletcher's son and like a brother to Gin. He's also quite the sharpshooter.

"Finn also ostensibly worked as an investment banker, although shameless, greedy money launderer would have been a far more accurate description of his job."

Owen Grayson is a metal elemental and in love with Gin. Eva Grayson is Owen's baby sister. Violet Fox is Eva's best friend. Warren T. Fox is Violet's grandfather. Phillip Kincaid is back to being one of Owen's friends; he's also hip-deep in the criminal factions with his floating casino, the Delta Queen. Gustav is his chef.

The Pork Pit is…
…a barbecue restaurant left to Gin by Fletcher. And damn, if Estep doesn't half make me hungry for barbecue and coleslaw! Sophia Devereaux, a goth dwarf, is the head cook with a talent for Air magic and very helpful in disappearing bodies. Catalina Vasquez works as a waitress there while she attends college. Silvio is her uncle. Laura was Catalina's mother. Jolene "Jo-Jo" Devereaux is Sophia's sister and also has an Air power. She uses hers to heal Gin up in between making the beauty queen wanna-bes and their mamas look good in her beauty salon. Cooper Stills is a dwarven blacksmith and Jo-Jo's beau.

Ashland PD
The giant Detective Xavier is Bria's partner, and he's in love with Roslyn. Cassie works in the lab.

Roslyn, a vampire who owns Northern Aggression, a decadent, after-hours bar. Lisa is her sister; Catherine is Lisa's daughter.

Silvio Sanchez is the smart, vicious second-in-command to Beauregard Benson, the drug-dealing vampire king of Southtown with Air magic. And Beau has got a magic that is absolutely terrifying. Johnny, Derrick, and Joan are some of his guards.

Troy Mannis is a childhood friend of Catalina's whom she wants nothing to do with anymore. Max Young is a young snitcher. Jonah McAllister had been Mab's lawyer, and he has an itch to take Gin down hard. Lorelei Parker and Ron Donaldson are some of the other underworld bosses. Madeline Magda Monroe is Mab's daughter, and she's come to Ashland. Emery Slater, a giant, is her personal bodyguard; Elliot Slater was her uncle — and Madeline's father.

Burn is the latest designer drug coming into Ashland.

Charlotte Vaughan still runs Vaughan Construction. Coral is a hooker Gin saved when she was on the streets. Reggie is her pimp.

The Cover and Title
The cover has a poisonous look to it with all that green. The green tinted rock with Gin's rune drawn on in blood, dripping down the battered wall. A belligerent Gin with her arms crossed and in a cocky stance in a deep green tank top, her silverstone knives in sheaths at her waist like six-guns, her black jeans painted on. There's more green in the soft pastel gradient in Poison as it wraps itself around the golden Promise.

The title is what Gin will provide, a Poison Promise for a poisonous man.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one go last night when I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review, couldn't wait to start. Hard to believe it was 416 pages it went so fast.

While the story line about illegal drugs is quite ordinary, as with everything in Gin's world, this is ratcheted up a notch. The bad guys are vampires, with the head bad guy being even more special, the drug, Burn, has special properties too and effects all including supes and elementals.

What I appreciate about this series, and this book especially, is that we really get to see inside Gin. We are let in to how she is feeling and why she does what she does, more than just the revenge for her family. There's also a great cast of secondary characters, many of whom get to play an important role in Poison.

I knew who the auburn haired woman was from the beginning and what role she more obviously played in Poison, but like Gin, there were surprises in store for me.

This is a phenomenal series and Poison Promise is right up there as one of my favorites. For those new to the series, start with book 1, Spider's Bite, and work your way through to Poison Promise. You'll enjoy them all and I think you'd enjoy Poison more knowing the characters' back stories. However, I felt this could probably stand alone ok.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

There's a new drug being pushed called "Burn" and it's taking hold of the people of Ashland. When Gin happens upon a drug deal gone bad that involves one of her employees, the Spider steps in.

This is one of my favorite UF series! Gin is a total bad ass! She's a bit of a reluctant assassin because she doesn't take just any job. However, if a person threatens her friends, family, or an innocent~ she takes care of business.

The other thing that I really enjoy about this series, is that she doesn't have to be the lone Hero. Everyone in her inner circle has a role in the success of The Spider. She might be the one who ultimately dispatches the villains but she's never quite alone in it. And her inner circle keeps growing! I really liked the new "addition" becoming her personal assistant, lol. The Spider is becoming the top Powerhouse in Ashland, whether she likes it or not.

We also get a nice little introduction to the next villain. The one we've been waiting on. We knew she was coming but it's more of a package deal. I'm definitely eager to see how that turns out.

The reason for 3.5 stars is simple, Bria. She seriously made me angry with her stupidity and treatment of Gin. I wanted to punch her in the throat. Gin might forgive her but I haven't yet.

[Feminista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2 out of 5.

I have returned to this series after the disaster that it became with Owen and Salina's plot line.

I can't say this book is anything to recommend.

Unfortunately I have lost any interest for this series.

The writing was overly dramatic and cheesy. Gin kept on throwing cheesy lines at the villain at the last fighting scene. Sufficed to say, I rolled my eyes so many times, I was afraid of doing myself some serious physical damage.

Owen. Ugh. Really? There is literally nothing there. Gin and Owen could have been brother and sister, if they didn't sleep with one another.

No love, no flames, no passion. Nothing, nada, zilch.

The action is cheesy, the writing isn't anything to rave about. The romance is practically non-existent.

I would have been done with this series if I hadn't already received another ARC for another book in this series.

Let's hope that book is better.

ARC Courtesy of Pocket Books and Edelweiss.

[Kat Hooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 it was okay.

I’m not sure that I should continue reviewing Jennifer Estep’s ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series. My goal has been to get the entire series reviewed for this website because that’s one of our visions for Fantasy Literature, (get everything reviewed), but it occurs to me that it might be pointless. This series gets high marks at GoodReads and Amazon, so why would anyone who’s interested in Poison Promise, book 11, be reading my reviews when I’ve been kind of down on these books for quite a while now? Fans of the series — those who are considering reading Poison Promise — are probably not coming here to get information. They’re probably reading reviews by other fans. Right? (Please correct me if I’m wrong by leaving a comment.)

So, I’ll just post some random thoughts here because... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[~Melissa~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous dose of Gin (like the liquor) Blanco. These really are wonderfully entertaining on audio. As always there are some over the top elements but you're just totally rooting for Gin and her family. Gin faces down a major drug dealer of Southtown which then brings a new player to the forefront - one we've been waiting for since Mab's death - the elusive MMM. Looking forward to the next one.

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

A new drug Burn is making the rounds in the college campus till it reaches one Gin’s employees, and she is forced to get involved in this fight against the dealer, thanks to the employee Catalina and her cop sister Bria.

Gin is wonderful, oh I am so fangirling her right now.. Well I think I am always going to be her fan. The author Jennifer Estep has reached into my heart and pulled the vengeful strings one by one till the heart was bound to her and Gin. Yp I am that crazy about these series!!

Gin’s fight against an emotion (and blood) draining vampire Beauregard Benson was fabulous. It was dramatic, full of flair with blood and gore flying. It made Gin, the Queen of the Underworld. This book hit all the right boxes for me. Fast paced, well written, with a lot of fight scenes and torture. Gin’s friends and family, her gang, were irresistible. They stood by her all through, there were emotions, nothing overboard. Gin’s magic, the spider runes, pulling the power from her core was so vivid to imagine. Need I go on??

And then there were the niggles, story was predictable, the plot lines were straight, I like twisted ones that make me go oooh and aah!!

The end

The last few pages redeemed the book when MMM makes her full introduction and Gin knows that she has been played!!