Sharpest Sting

Elemental Assassin, Book 18

De: Jennifer Estep

Narrado por: Lauren Fortgang

The truth won’t set me free - but it will probably get me killed....

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to having a target on my back. But ever since I started investigating the secret society known as the Circle, that target seems bigger than ever.

Still, I’m trying to relax and enjoy the events leading up to my friends’ wedding when I learn that an old enemy has returned to Ashland. And that’s the just beginning of my latest nightmare. Soon, I have Circle goons watching my every move, but I have no choice but to continue searching for a key piece of evidence against the evil group.

The deeper I dig, the more horrifying secrets I uncover, and the more dangerous things become for me and my friends. Just when I think I finally have a handle on things, a shocking revelation shatters my heart and leaves me with an ugly realization - that betrayal is the sharpest sting of all....

©2019 Jennifer Estep (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

As always great story

In this action packed story more secrets are revealed. Gin learns the shocking identity of the head of the Circle and the reason for her parent’s deaths. All of Gin’s family and friends lives are threatened if she doesn’t complete the Circle’s leader request. Some enemies appear to be helping her, but why. Some friends appear to betray her. Must read!

how have I read this and the next ?

I seam to remember this book and the next don't know how but they're both good

Gin is getting closer to taking down the Circle

Well this book was nonstop suspense and action. I couldn’t put it down. Gin has been taking down the Circle for a few books now but the truth about the leader really shocks her to the core. This book was filled with more shocking revelations about her family and Fletcher. It was just a very emotional one for Gin and the gang because they are questioning everything they thought they knew about a family member.

We also finally get to see Mason in this one and how ruthless he can be. I never expected him to make the first move or to be so bold about it. His power is daunting and I am excited to see how Gin deals with taking him down. There is also some new information about Hugh Tucker which will be interesting to see how it plays out.

This one also shows how much of a mad genius Fletcher was when it came to hiding clues apparently. That man really was smart and strategic when it came to planning ahead and we are finally starting to see that Gin can also be strategic like he was. Overall, this was a wonderful addition to this series and I can’t wait to see what Gin will do next.

Also, I love all the flirting between Liam and Silvio in this one. I really hope they get their own novella.

Gin versus her Uncle & the Circle

Gin and the gang are finally getting some answers as to The Circle. All roads point to Gin and Bria’s family being prominent members of this infamous group that has been running the Ashland underground from the shadows.
Now Uncle Mason has decided to put Gin to work getting him some answers to something stolen from him.

Gin doesn’t want to work for her Uncle but she has finally run into an elemental stronger than her. So the Spider has to use every resource and friend available to keep alive in this family duel.

We got some answers as to Gin’s father’s death. We also learned more about The Circle. This book was clearly a set up for a bigger showdown but it definitely got my attention. Uncle Mason seems to be the real deal, as bad as Mab Monroe. I look forward to finding out what he’s really after.

Epic

I've loved this series from the beginning. This is the 1st one out of this series that I've listened to on audio though. It DIDN'T disappoint! 💜💙

Love them all.

I absolutely love this series. I am so excited about the next book coming out. I am now getting ready to listen to other books from this author.

Frustrated

Is Gin really this unimaginative? Is her ice and stone that pitiful? I know a good story needs suspense, drama and the like but Gin who is supposed to be powerful, runs out of it very quickly while her enemies seem to have an endless supply. Her enemies and friends actually think up ways to use their magic yet here is Gin 17/18 stories in, yet she still flounders using her power. Then there is the fact her enemies bring guns to the fight yet she only brings knives? What freaking assassin would leave themselves that vulnerable. I’m to the point of giving up on Gin ever growing and evolving. Plus I swear she has to be the clumsiest assassin I’ve ever read about. She calls it unlucky but I call it not paying attention. She makes such rookie mistakes for being this badass assassin. I’m not even sure how she’s managed to stay alive this long. Please for the love of my sanity and to continue reading the series let Gin show a little ingenuity and imagination. Stop repeating things every durn book that we have memorized by now because you put the same thing into every single book over and over again. I’ve loved your Gin stories and have managed to get past the annoying things mentioned above and want the series to continue but pretty, pretty please show some character growth.

this should have been another 3 hour novel

the book progresses the overall plot, but there is so much drawn out slow pace irrelevance.
I'd have loved the story if it had been a novel , but this just feels like a cashgrab by a author seeing the end of a successful series coming to an end trying to keep it off till a new idea strikes for a next series

Lauren does her same great job nothing much to say there :)

Frustrating and flawed

Nothing happens in this book except for a long, unrealistic set up for a showdown in the next book. There’s one battle at the very end, but that was too little, too late to distract me from all the nonsense plots in The Circle story arc.

How exactly does a secret circle rule a criminal underworld that knows nothing about the circle?
What exactly does Gin do as Queen of the Underworld? (Nothing, per the last few books)
Why did Fletcher (a) keep a tons of secrets and (b) hide those secrets in a ton of random hiding spots?
Why is assassin and mob boss Gin so judgmental of her fellow criminals, as if only she gets to be
a “good” criminal, or as if she can’t comprehend how being a part of the underworld means having to act in shades of grey?

My biggest frustration: Why is Gin a complete doormat in this book?
Gin knows the identity of the Big Bad and makes zero plans to snipe, poison, or otherwise take him out.
Gin let’s herself be pushed around and wallows in pity about being betrayed (by something that’s
not actually a betrayal). She and her friends just go on with their lives and let the fight come to them.
And the one plan is a stupid one that makes no sense, except to allow the showdown to get dragged out to the next book.

The only part I enjoyed was Sylvio’s romance and the “who’s side is he on?” Tucker plot line.
This 11 hour book should have been a novella.

revelations

Well, we finally got some answers in this episode. I rated this one lower than I normally do because I disliked the way Gin was portrayed. Gin is "The Spider", kick-ass assassin, not a weakling, cowering and afraid. There were lots of revelations in this book, questions finally answered. Overall it was good with lots of action and a few surprise twist. Looking forward to the next book