Widow's Web

Elemental Assassin, Book 7

By: Jennifer Estep

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

I used to murder people for money, but lately it’s become more of a survival technique. Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town anyway. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back, she thinks he’s hers for the taking. Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.

©2012 Jennifer Estep (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

What Happened to Owen?

I have really enjoyed this series. But what happened to the character of Owen? I always loved that the character was strong and accepted Gin for what she was. However, in this book, he turns into a whiny idiot. I say idiot because even after everything he finds out about the villain (stuff that everyone else knew except him), he still keeps saying, "I understand her more than anyone." Oh, shut up, Owen!
Please, bring back the Owen who was a strong, smart person, not the emo Owen who can't see the obvious even after it's punched him in the face.

Southern Girls Kill Them With Kindness

Any additional comments?

I do so enjoy listening to southern girls exchanging barbs. To anyone else's ears, it would appear that they are paying a compliment... That being said, this book provides a lot of back story on Gin's honey, Owen and his sister. Very well written, pacing is appropriate, while there is some repetition, it is also appropriate since readers do need a back story. I love this series and have binge listened to all 14 books in less than 3 weeks. Totally engrossing.

Well told tale

What made the experience of listening to Widow's Web the most enjoyable?

Interesting storyline - for beyond the natural realm. The suspense is maintained and the emotions alluded to are well thought of and natural. Characters are strong and well developed. Narrator does a good job of conveying the tale's twists and turns.

Entertaining jaunt into the world of the Spider.

Would you listen to Widow's Web again? Why?

I have already listened to this book twice. The story is solid but the narrator really brings the main character to life, nailing her rich Southern twang. For fans of narrator Marguerite Gavin, this is a must. Lauren Fortgang turns in a very memorable performance.

Have you listened to any of Lauren Fortgang’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Again, I just want to say here how awesome the narrator's performance was! Kudos, Lauren!

Good, but a little disappointing

I'll try not to put spoilers in, but I may spoil a bit. I don't like the direction Owen took in this book. He always seemed so much stronger and better put together than he ended up in this book. It was disappointing and just made me mad. Is still a good book, good villain, and Gin is awesome as always. I don't think you should skip it, just know you may be frustrated at the end.

Although Gin makes you mad,

She keeps you interested. Gins boyfriend excuse me, her lover, as she refers to him, is a real jerk in this one. It was very frustrating listening to this and the affect his EX had on him and Gin s relationship but totally human and believable. Good story and I guess that's what made it frustrating. As usual, the narration is amazing and some of the best I've heard.

Promises, Promises, Promises

What did you love best about Widow's Web?

The growing friendship between Gin and her sister.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the story (other than the whole killing thing) matches life. How trying to keep promises to one person can cause us to lose what we care about the most. Sometimes there are some things you have to do no matter what the costs. How one person can effect so many lives. It also showed how we all have secrets and do you really know everything about someone.

What does Lauren Fortgang bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love how Lauren brings the feelings of each person to life.

Bad Ass

Any additional comments?

In this installment, Gin reminds us just how bad ass she is. When her family is threatened, she takes no prisoners and gives no mercy. She does anything that needs to be done to protect the people she loves even if she has to protect them from themselves.

Be prepared to be put through the emotional ringer

Jennifer Estep definitely has a knack for creating characters; from her phenomenal heroine, to her lovable sidekicks, to her downright devious villains, I can’t help but be impressed every time I step into her world. That and I simply can not put her books down! Widow’s Web was no different except for the fact that I was mildly scared to turn the pages; not because I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy the story but because I feared for Gin and Owen’s relationship. That’s how involved I am in this series. Their struggles actually take an emotional toll on me. If that’s not the definition of a great author then I don’t know what is!

I find myself oddly fascinated by Estep’s antagonists; even if some of them are only present for one book, the amount of detail and thought that goes into them is simply remarkable. On the surface, Salina Dubois appears to be merely an ex-girlfriend trying to rekindle an old flame. However, as the story progresses it becomes obvious that there’s so much more to her than meets the eye. By the end I was in awe of her cruelty and cunningness; she definitely gives Gin a run for her money (in more ways than one)! I loved the way that Estep gradually widened this character’s scope until the big picture was revealed. Practically every chapter ends on a cliffhanger which had me constantly saying “I’ll just read one more…” and you all know how that goes. Now I’m stuck waiting until March for Deadly Sting. Ooh, the pain!

There’s trouble in paradise between Gin and Owen which honestly, was to be expected. Had their relationship bliss gone on for too many books I would have been disappointed. Yes I love them to death and yes I want them to get their happily ever after but they haven’t been tested nearly enough yet for them to have reached that point. This is Urban Fantasy people, there’s no such thing as easy! Grayson’s attitude was tiresome but understandable; love is blind and this book does a great job of illustrating that. I was impressed with Gin’s level of maturity and patience given the situation, in her shoes I would have turned into a jealous, sniveling mess. I think that Owen will eventually come to his senses and I’m more than willing to wait for that day; I just hope that he doesn’t take too long because he might end up being too little too late.

Finn really proved himself to me in this installment. For the past several books he’s been taking on a more active role in the assassin business and he really brought his A-game this time around. His character has morphed into so much more than just the ladies man that he started out as. Gin asked some very difficult things of him in Widow’s Web and he never hesitated. Not once. Like Blanco, he does what needs to be done regardless of who it pisses off and I love him for it. Especially now after everything that went down between Gin and Owen; it helps to lessen the blow knowing that Finn has her back.

I skipped over my usual go-to review criteria like the plot, pacing and writing because the awesomeness of these elements are a given seeing how this is an Elemental Assassin book but rest assured, they’re just as good this seventh time around. Be prepared to be put through the emotional ringer with Widow’s Web but take heart, Jennifer Estep will make it up to us. I have faith.

Fully addicted

I love the series, it's such a good story and series, I'm going to keep on reading it