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Widow's Web (Elemental Assassin, #7)

Jennifer Estep

Start date: July 1, 2017

Finish date: July 31, 2017

Discussion: Challenges: What's the Rush

Why we're reading this: Part of our group series (re)read: Elemental Assassin …more
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Challenges: What's the Rush

* 2025 Series Read: K.N. Banet's "Jacky Leon"
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last updated Oct 27, 2025 01:12PM

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* YEAR-LONG CHALLENGES
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What Members Thought

Dec 13, 2012 AH rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, magic, own, urban-fantasy, lawyers, giants, dwarfs, assassins, zzread-dec-2012

Exciting, riveting, a really fun read in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassins series.

I had stopped reading this series about a year ago. I loved the world, the characters, the stories – however the books were rife with repetition, especially the characters’ eye colors. The repetition was so distracting that I had contemplated a drinking game, but then I’d never be able to finish the book. Instead, I just stopped reading the books, which was a shame because the author does tell a good story.

Fast Exciting, riveting, a really fun read in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassins series.

I had stopped reading this series about a year ago. I loved the world, the characters, the stories – however the books were rife with repetition, especially the characters’ eye colors. The repetition was so distracting that I had contemplated a drinking game, but then I’d never be able to finish the book. Instead, I just stopped reading the books, which was a shame because the author does tell a good story.

Fast forward – read: skip ahead – (yes, I did skip books 4, 5, and 6 – apologies to those anal readers that MUST read series in order) – to book 7 – Widow’s Web. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. What a difference! The writing (or is it the editing?) has improved 100% and I can honestly say that I enjoyed this book. Gone is the endless repetition, replaced by a riveting story. I literally read Widow’s Web in two sittings, devouring page after page of action packed narrative.

There’s something to be said about this world. The Elemental Assassins series is set in the extremely corrupt town of Ashland, where criminal elements vie for power, the po-po (police) is on the take, and assassins are readily available for hire. This is a diverse world, full of giants, dwarves, vampires, and humans. Some people are able to control elemental magic and their power comes from the type of magic they wield. Our heroine Gin Blanco controls stone and ice magic.

Gin is one of my favorite urban fantasy heroines. Gin was raised and trained by Fletcher Lane and she is a lethal assassin known by her rune, The Spider. Gin is kick-ass, and it’s easy to imagine her decked out in black leather. Gin is surprisingly down to earth. During her down time, Gin runs the Pork Pit, a popular barbeque restaurant in town. She is surrounded by an eccentric group of secondary characters, my favorites being Finn Fletcher and Sophia, the Goth dwarf.

Gin’s world changes for the worse when Salina Dubois rolls into town. Salina has her eyes on Owen and will not take no for an answer. Salina is also on a path to avenge the death of her father and she plans to take over the town. Gin has some serious butt-kicking to do.

Did I miss anything by skipping ahead 3 books? Probably. I’m told that a major baddy got what was coming. Did I feel lost skipping ahead? No. I will most likely go back and read what I’ve missed – eventually.

Oh, and a little side note. I would love to see the Gin Blanco cookbook one day. Gin cooks when she is stressed out and the cooking parts are so detailed that all we are missing are the recipes. So please Ms. Estep – write a Gin Blanco cookbook once the series is finished.

I’m now excited to read the next book in the series Deadly Sting coming out in March 2013. (and I will go back and read the other books while I'm waiting).
...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Diane ~Firefly~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, kindle, pb-also, magic, uf

I thought Mab was bad, but Salina seems even worse.

What I enjoyed:
* Learning more about Owen and Eva's past
* Phillip
* Seeing Gin and Bria's relationship continue to grow
* Finn
* Learning more about Fletcher in flashbacks/dreams

What could have been better:
* Owen went from being smart, canny and likeable to extremely naive
* (view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 25, 2013 Arushi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

There are not a lot of series' out there which logically go one even after the nemesis of the protagonist is dead. Elemental Assassin is as rare as it is good. I took a while to get to this book, mostly because it takes only a few hours to read and I prefer not to wait for the next one.

But I have to say, the book didn't feel like much time had passed. It has the right amount of info on the past, a great plot, even more character development and unexpected but interesting twists.

Jennifer Estep' ...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Andrea (mrsaubergine) rated it it was amazing

Gin is back in top form in this book, in which her nemesis turns out to be Owen's old love. While that plotline echoes the previous book somewhat - the return of the ex - here it is much more gripping, with the vengeful water elemental leaving a trail of bodies of Owen's old friends. There is less repetition to slow the action down, and less Bria, although when we do see her she seems more supportive of Gin than she has ever been, thank goodness. The toll on Gin and Owen's relationship is high, ...more

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