Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Review: The Spider by Jennifer Estep

Review: The Spider by Jennifer Estep

January 22, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

spiderThe Spider by Jennifer Estep (Elemental Assassin #10)
Released: December 24, 2013
Urban Fantasy
Pocket

Reviewed by May

Gin Blanco is a stone cold assassin, known for her patience, skill, and absolute control when it comes to her work. It turns out though, that there was one event that really made her how she is today. Gin faced one job so pivotal in fact, that it made her embrace her mentor’s lessons absolutely and never again try to rush into anything.

This is the story of the Spider.

“Gin,” I finally said, nodding my head at the glasses. “My name is Gin, like the liquor.” I hesitated. “Well not this liquor, exactly, but you get the idea.”

His face cleared. “Oh, that makes sense.”

Well, if I’d known it was that easy, I would have started introducing myself like this to people years ago.

I was not sure about this story going in – why would we need or want to go back and read an origins story so far into this series? Would it be interesting? Also, it made me cranky to think about going back when I really want to see what comes next!

Really though, I should have had more faith because Estep delivers an intense ride through Gin’s past as we see her stumble, fall, and pull herself up and into the person we know she becomes. This is a great read for anyone who has not yet read the series, someone who has only read a few of the books, and a real treat for long time fans like myself who will get to see glimpses of all of our favorite Ashland characters.

The story is told as current-day Gin has some mysterious roses delivered to the Pork Pit (her BBQ joint) with a note about it being a ten year anniversary. As Gin walks down memory lane we can see that once upon a time she wasn’t the patient assassin that never hesitated to wait a bit more, to look at more intel, or to call off a hit simply because something feels off.

Fletcher put his foot down, talking about “procedure” and “caution”. Whatever. I gave in, if only because I knew that he would cancel the hit entirely if I didn’t, and I wanted to protect Charlotte from her father.

It was bittersweet to see Gin with her mentor, to watch her before she turned her heart to ice and became so untouchable. Estep really did a great job of showing us the Gin of the past, while (I think – we shall see!) sharing details that may be of interest to us in future books in this series.

If I have a complaint it would be that I wish the problems and eventual reveal of how Gin was missing some key elements to the hit had not been so obvious. That there had been more of a twist, and perhaps just a bit more going on in general would have been nice. I enjoyed this story tremendously but it was instantly apparent to me what was happening and what Gin wasn’t seeing.

That said, by the time I finished the story I was tremendously satisfied and as anxious as ever for more from Ashland’s greatest (semi-retired) assassin.

Grade: B+

Previous Jennifer Estep Reviews

Goodreads l Author Website l Series Guide

Kindle l Nook

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Amy says

    January 22, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    I started this series a little over a week ago and am halfway finished. I was so excited when Tori told me this book was a prequel because I honestly want to see more of Gin’s relationship with Fletcher and I’m hoping this one reveals more of Owen’s past as well. I’m loving the series and can’t wait to get back to it!

    Loading...
    Reply

Leave a Reply to AmyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Review: Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh
    Review: Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh
  • New Releases- Week of June 2-6, 2025
    New Releases- Week of June 2-6, 2025
  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • Release Blitz- Falling for the CEO: A Billionaire Romance Collection
    Release Blitz- Falling for the CEO: A Billionaire Romance Collection
  • Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Lyla Sage, Maisey Yates, Sherry Thomas, and more!
    Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Lyla Sage, Maisey Yates, Sherry Thomas, and more!
  • Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
    Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Review: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
    Review: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
  • Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
    Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d