
Series: Elemental Assassin #11
Published by Simon & Schuster on July 22, 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 416

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.
There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…
Ashland is a pretty scary place. Filled with baddies of all types, and those baddies feel threatened. Gin is constantly defending herself from these baddies and it is starting to wear her down. It seems like a bit of her fire is sputtering. That is until Burn makes its appearance on the Ashland drug scene and Bria’s obsession with bringing the drug lord, Beauregard Benson, down pulls Gin into the fray to keep her baby sister alive. Gin’s hesitancy to get involved is understandable. She is exhausted and tired of the onslaught of hit men that have been keeping her busy on a daily basis, and now it looks like it is about to get hairy again and she just hasn’t had the time to recover from her last escape. Once she gets her head together though, there is no stopping her. Gin is a hard ass heroine and Beauregard Benson, with his powers and fleet of bodyguards will stop her from saving her family and the city.
Beauregard Benson is a creepy adversary. He’s not the kind of guy you would normally see as a bad guy, but when you get to know his powers and the depravity he is capable of, you understand how he can hold his position. Honestly, from Gin’s first descriptions of him, I was stunned that he was the chief baddie. Then he showed what powers were hidden beneath the crazy surface and it becomes clear that Benson cannot be taken lightly.
I have to admit, there were a few times during this book that were “oh shit” moments. Gin can get pretty beat down before she pulls herself up and comes back swinging. That is stressful and has you burning through the book like a freight train until you know she is safe. It’s intense and thrilling.
Then comes the new development that will take us into Black Widow. There is a new baddie in Ashland that will just start making their presence known. The danger level for Gin has jumped exponentially and I can’t wait for the next book. It is going to be so intense!
I can’t end this review without expressing my love for Finn & Owen. Owen is so great for Gin. Finn and Gin’s relationship and banter is always fun. Bria got on my nerves in Poison Promise, and a lot of friction is caused between Gin and her baby sister. Just more for the two of them to work out. It has been rocky from the start for them, so we can’t expect smooth sailing between them all the time.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges: