Widow’s Web (Elemental Assassin #7) by Jennifer Estep-a review

REMINDER:  Interview  and Giveaway with Jennifer Estep August 23, 2012

WIDOW’S WEB is the 7th novel (August 21, 2012 release)  in Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. Gin Blanco aka The Spider is an assassin with the elementals of stone and ice, but Gin may have met her match both magically and emotionally, when someone from her lover’s past returns seeking revenge for the death of her father and Gin is the only one standing in her way.

Gin was surprised when local casino owner Phillip Kincaid requested her catering service. As the owner of the Pork Pit, Gin’s reputation preceded her, but no more than her assassin services. But after a suspicious water elemental attack on the floating casino, Gin knows that her skills as The Spider were what Kincaid was hoping for.

Salina has returned to Ashland. But unbeknownst to Gin, Salina has a history with both Owen Grayson and Kincaid. With their colorful history, it is no secret that something happened between the trio of friends, and the animosity between Owen and Kincaid is deep and dark-very personal. Even Owen’s younger sister appears to be caught up in the dysfunctional family feud. But it is Owen’s behavior towards the return of Salina that has everyone on edge including an angry and disgruntled Eva. Betrayed by her brother’s obvious defense of Salina, Eva confesses to Gin the secret she has kept from her brother for over 15 years.

Owen and Gin’s relationship has had its’ ups and downs, but throughout the last couple of storylines, they have become closer professing their love for one another. But Salina is part of Owen’s past and apparently one that he has never relinquished hold. When Gin must choose between saving the people that she loves or stand by watching everyone die a horrible death, it will force Owen to make a decision that will break her heart and yours. Throughout the series, Owen has remained (for the most part) in the background, but Widow’s Web will reveal a different side of the man and one that I was saddened to read.  His love for Gin will be questioned especially when he is willing to risk everything and everyone for a woman that is truly evil and over the edge. And knowing that The Spider had no choice but to do what she had to do, made Owen’s reactions that much more difficult to accept.

As the assassin Spider, Gin is at the top of her game, but Salina’s powers will prove too much for Gin. Revenge for the murder of her father forces a mentally unstable Salina to seek retribution against everyone who stood by and watched him die and this time everyone Gin loves will be caught in the web including herself.

WIDOW’S WEB is another wonderful and exciting instalment in Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Series. Jennifer focuses much of her energy in character and plotline development allowing the reader to be absorbed into the storyline right from the start. The usual cast of characters returns including Jo Jo, Finn and Bria, but my heart broke and the tears fell when Owen could not accept the truth about the past, even when the results could have been fatal for the woman that he loves. Owen’s denial of the past and his refusal to let go of the shattered memories and times long ago, sets up a scenario that I am not sure I will enjoy.You can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved. I am looking forward to DEADLY STING in 2013.

READING ORDER:

Spider’s Bargain (a free short)
Book 1–Spider’s Bite 
Web of Death (a free short story)
Book 2–Web of Lies 
Web of Deceit (free short)
Poison (free short)
Wasted (free short)
Book 3–Venom 
Tangled Dreams (free short)
Tangled Schemes (free short )
Book 4–Tangled Threads 
Book 5–Spider’s Revenge 
Book 6–By a Thread 
Book 7–Widow’s Web 
Bok 8–Deadly Sting- 2013

LINKS TO ORDER:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paper Books
B&N Nook and Paper Books
The Book Depository
KOBO

Copy supplied by author.

Reviewed by Sandy