Last Strand  by Jennifer Estep- Dual review & Giveaway

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 16 2021

Every bloody thread has been leading to this . . .

I’ve battled a lot of bad guys in my time, both as Gin Blanco and as the notorious assassin the Spider. But I’ve never faced off against anyone quite as powerful and deadly as the dastardly leader of the Circle secret society.

Just when I finally have a lead on how I can defeat the evil group once and for all, new information comes to light that throws me for a loop. Suddenly, everyone and everything I love is in imminent peril of being destroyed, and I’m racing against the clock to figure out a way to save my friends.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the danger has never been greater. Somehow, I need to weave one last strand in my web of death—and kill my enemies before they kill me .

•••••

SANDY’S REVIEW:LAST STRAND is the nineteenth and final (for now) instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary, adult ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN urban fantasy/paranormal series focusing on Gin Blanco aka the Spider aka The Assassin-the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland, LAST STRAND can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order or at the very least, read SHARPEST STING book 18.

SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, Gin lost her father to a supposed accident, then her mother and older sister to a deliberate fire started by a fire elemental, a fire ordered by the notorious group known only as The Circle. Fostered and mentored by Fletcher Lane, Gin would become the fiercest elemental assassin the Underworld would ever know.

NOTE: There are some scenes of graphic violence that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Gin Blanco) using present day and memories from the past, LAST STRAND follows the beginning of the end for the group known as The Circle. Gin Blanco has spent most of her life training for and defending against a number of enemies, all with ties to The Circle. With the revelations about her father’s murder, and the person responsible, Gin struggles with the information and connection to her extended family, family that is about to meet its’ match. When an ultimatum is given, Gin must take aggressive steps to protect the people she loves, and in this, ending the life of the person out to destroy them all. The leader of the Circle is gunning for our heroine, beginning with the take down and demise of her business, and everything it entails.

The familiar secondary and supporting characters include Gin’s sister Bria, and her step-brother Finn Lane (Bria’s lover); Gin’s assistant /vampire Silvio Sanchez, vampire Roslyn Phillips, police officer and giant Xavier dwarves Jo Jo and Sophia Deveraux, Lorelei Parker, as well as Underworld boss and security specialist Liam Carter, vampire Hugh Tucker, Bellum Bank owners and fire elementals Charles Yang, and his daughter Drusilla; elemental and giant Emery Slater, and current leader of The Circle Mason Mitchell.

LAST STRAND is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control; greed, avarice, hatred and malice. The premise is exciting and engaging; the characters are fierce, energetic and determined- the camaraderie and friendships are electric and deep. Jennifer Estep has revealed LAST STRAND is the final instalment (for now) in the Elemental Assassin series but the author has plans for more stories focusing on the secondary characters introduced throughout the series. The Elemental Assassin series is a dramatic, thrilling and wonderful series.

 

BARB’S REVIEW:
Last Strand by Jennifer Estep is the 19^th and final (for now) book in her fantastic Elemental Assassin series. I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having read all her series, and this series is my favorite. I love the lead character, Gin Blanco (The Spider), as well as all the wonderful secondary characters that help support Gin.   I can’t say enough about how Estep keeps the flow going so smoothly in each and every book in this terrific series, as well as the exciting action throughout.  Needless to say, Gin Blanco, the Spider, is one of the best literary kick-ass female heroines, as well as one of my favorites. 

In Last Strand, Gin and Finn have discovered where Fletcher has hidden the money, he had  supposedly stolen from the Circle leader, Mason Mitchell.  With some of their friends hiding nearby to help them if needed, they enter a bank that has strong rules, and very powerful clients, as well as strict security measures.  To their shock, the vault in Fletcher’s name is loaded with treasures and money, which amounts to a lot of money, but Gin is confused, as it is not as much as she expected.  They leave without a problem, to go home and meet with the group how to find a way to get everything out of the vault, before Mason Mitchell finds out. Before they get a chance to move the money, Mitchell and his giants, including the evil Emery, threaten the life of one of theirs, forcing Gin to agree to give them what he wants. 

Gin has dreams about Fletcher and how he taught her things, but no matter what she cannot figure out what clues he was telling her.  Gin also knows that not only is her life on the line, but so are all of her family and friends.  Mason Mitchell will stop at nothing to kill them all.  She also learns what Mason is planning to destroy her Pork Pit restuarant, as well as take complete control of Ashland. Can she stop him?

What follows is an exciting, action filled, pulse pounding adventure that will bring Gin and her team into death defying situations. But with help from her fantastic friends and others, she will devise an elaborate plan to destroy Mason.  Will it cost her life, or that of her loved ones?

This series is always an edge of your seat suspense when following Gin Blanco, as she is always in the middle of a wild violent adventure.   To tell too much more would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin it for anyone; especially this being the final book (for now). But as we come to the conclusion of the series, we worry who will survive.

I love spending time with Gin, but I also love all the recurring secondary characters that are Gin’s friends and family that she is loyal to, and they are always there for each other.  Finn, Owen, Bria, Silvio, Sophia, Jo Jo, Lorelei, Silvio are all great members of Gin’s group.   

Jennifer Estep is a master at creating exciting, mind-boggling adventures in each story, and making Gin into such a great heroine.   Last Strand was a wonderful action filled addition to this series, which also gives us answers to some questions, as well as an amazing and satisfying conclusion.  If you have not read the Elemental Assassin series, it is time for you to start now.

 

 

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. 

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Sharpest Sting, book #18, will be released Oct. 8.

Jennifer is also the author of the Crown of Shards, Mythos Academy, Black Blade, and Bigtime fantasy series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, Blog and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.

 

 

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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7. Giveaway open Internationally

8. Giveaway runs from March 16- 20, 2021