Spider's Bite

[Suzanne]

In this thread, we'll discuss , which is the first book in the (long) Elemental Assassin series. Since (at least initially) we will only do one thread per book, please mark spoilers.

Here is the Goodreads synopsis: Actually, I'm putting it in spoilers - at least the last paragraph - because it IS a book spoiler. Lame!

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.

(view spoiler)[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. (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

So, I read this book about a month go - it is still relatively fresh. I have some overall book comments that I will save for later, but here are a couple of early book comments:

I really like the idea of an efficient female assassin - shades of the tv show Alias I guess! And I like the idea of elemental magic - I think it'll be fun to explore.

One thing that kind of threw me off though (spoiler for a few chapters in) (view spoiler)[ is that when she's on the first job we witness, and sees Detective Donavan and immediately goes into some sexual fantasy. I'm not a prude, and that isn't what bugged me - it just seemed forced - like 'oh I'm writing urban fantasy - I'd better put in some sex!" (hide spoiler)] I'll probably expand on that comment later, and maybe it was just how it hit me at the time I was reading it.

[Suzanne]

The magic system in this book is, I suppose, similar to that in , with some people proficient in one element, etc. It is interesting to think of creative uses of some of the elements (like stone).

The thing I did not like about the book was the relationship with Donavan. (view spoiler)[ He basically hated her or at least greatly disliked her the whole time, and yeah....I just hated every part of that. I think I wouldn't have minded it if it were just a non-sexual adversarial relationship, but the way it was handled in the book was just wrong (hide spoiler)]. I was told by someone that my issues with the book are resolved, and I will read the next one or two and see if that happens.

[Emma]

I am just about to start t his book

[Suzanne]

Nice Emma. hope you enjoy it!