I am excited to welcome back Jennifer Estep to Literary Escapism as we celebrate the release of her fifth Elemental Assassin novel, Spider’s Revenge, with an exclusive excerpt.
Old habits die hard. And I plan on murdering someone before the night is through.
Killing used to be my regular gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly matters: Mab Monroe, the dangerous Fire elemental who murdered my family when I was thirteen.
Oh, I don’t think the mission will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more problematic than expected. The bitch knows I’m coming for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keeping Bria safe is my first priority. Taking Mab out is a close second.
Good thing I’ve got my powerful Stone and Ice magic — and my irresistible lover Owen Grayson — to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a chance I won’t survive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s coming with me…no matter what I have to do to make that happen.
Make sure you stick around to the end. We’ll be giving away an ebook of an Elemental Assassin novel – winners choice.
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Excerpt from Spider’s Revenge
I ran through the forest, leaping over snow-covered logs, stumbling over icy rocks, and shoving through frozen thickets full of sharp, brittle briars. All the while, I held my breath, hoping that my next step wouldn’t be my last. That my boots wouldn’t slip too badly on the snow and ice, that I wouldn’t break my ankle, that I wouldn’t make the single misstep that would mean my death.
Making my way over the hidden, treacherous terrain wasn’t the only thing that I had to worry about. Man-made traps littered the woods as well as magical trip wires, elemental Fire bombs, and other nasty things just waiting for me to stumble into them so they could blast me off to hell. I moved as fast as I dared, keeping to the path that I’d scouted before and skirting around the traps I’d already found on my way in. I kept my pace quick and steady, but I didn’t run blindly, even though the back of my neck itched as though there was a gun pointed right there, right at the sweet spot that would end me.
Paranoia was never a good feeling, especially for an assassin on the run.
And then, there were all the giants in the woods, snarling and swarming over everything like wolves tearing into a fresh kill. This time, I didn’t bother skirting around them. If they were between me and my escape, then they got cut with my silverstone knives, as hard and deep as I could manage it and still keep moving.
A few of them blocked my path, putting up as much resistance as they could, but I was quicker and far more ruthless. A swipe or two of my knife, and it was over. By the time the giants realized what was happening, they were more concerned about their guts spilling out of their stomachs than trying to stop me. I moved on, another obstacle hurdled, my eyes fixed ahead once more, ready to take care of the next fool stupid enough to step in front of me. I didn’t bother checking to see if I’d hurt the guards enough to kill them. The giants didn’t matter—only my escape did.
Finally, I managed to put a little distance between myself and my pursuers. The giants’ hoarse shouts faded to eerie echoes that rattled through the trees. But just because they weren’t as close anymore didn’t mean that I was in the clear yet, so I kept moving. I didn’t stop, not even for a second. That would be stupid and sloppy, and I’d already been plenty of both tonight—
The click of the gun surprised me.
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Meet Jennifer Estep!
Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin code named the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a bar be cue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ash land. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.
Contact Info
Website: www.jenniferestep.com
Blog: www.jenniferestep.com/blog/
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
Want to purchase Jennifer’s novel?
Bigtime
- Karma Girl at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Hot Mama at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Jinx at Amazon or the Book Depository
Elemental Assassin
- Spider’s Bite at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Web of Lies at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Venom at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Tangled Threads at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Spider’s Revenge at Amazon or the Book Depository
- By a Thread at Amazon or the Book Depository (February 28, 2012)
- Widows Web at Amazon or the Book Depository (August 21, 2012)
Mythos Academy
- Touch of Frost at Amazon or the Book Depository
- First Frost at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Kiss of Frost at Amazon or the Book Depository
- Dark Frost at Amazon or the Book Depository (May 29, 2012)
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Contest Time!
Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism!
Contest Time! We are giving away an ebook of an Elemental Assassin novel – winners choice.. To enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: Have you read the Elemental Assassin series yet? If so, what are you hoping to find out in Spider’s Revenge? If now, why not? Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered.
Even though I’m not giving the additional entries any more, you can still help support the author by sharing their article, and this contest, on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of this fabulous author ensures we get more fabulous stories.
The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.
The contest will stay open until September 29th at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have.
I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.
Of course I read Elemental Assassin series :) They are one of my favorite UFs!
I’m really hoping Mab will be killed in this book, I’m so ready for her to be gone.
Thank you for the contest. I would love to win Spider’s Revenge if the contest is open to international readers.
While I do have the assassin series on my kindle I haven’t started it yet but its next in my TBR pile. Thanks for the chance to win :)
Of course I have read the elemental assassin series….3 times while waiting for the new book to come out. I just want to see what happens as Gin moves forward, trying to balance her growing relationship with Owen and dealing with the ghost of Donovan Caine and trying to build a relationship with Bria.
I want to know Gin’s destiny after she’s gotten rid of Mab, what lies ahead with her powers and how she’ll handle it.
And of course we want to know how Finn is going to use his charms to break Bria out of her shell! ;-)
I have read them all- and can not wait to read of Mab’s and Gin’s showdown it is going to rock!!!!
I havent read this series yet. Its on my list I just havent gotten to it yet. It’d be nice to win it.
Breezyobreezy(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the series! I would like to find out more about JoJo and her sister. To learn more about where they came from and how they got to know the “Tin Man”.
Kara — Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the books.
Rhonda — Hope you get a chance to check out the series.
Michele — Thanks! I appreciate all the nice words about the books.
Audra — Thanks! Hope you enjoy Spider’s Revenge.
Bree — Hope you get a chance to check out the series.
Brandie — Thanks! There is some more info about Jo-Jo and Sophia in Spider’s Revenge.
I’ve read all the books in the series that are out so far. I’d like to see what happens between Gin and Owen.
I have read all of Gin’s books and I love how fresh they are. I’m excited to see how Gin’s ice power is growing and of course I’m looking forward to the showdown between her and Mab. Not only that but I want to see what Gin is cooking! I’m interested in how all of the relationships are progressing including Gin and Owen, Gin and Bria, and I also want to know the story behind Sophia. All in all I can’t wait for his book to come out!
Love, love , love this series! Can’t wait for the newest :) I’m hoping to find about more about Jo-Jo and Sophia, see Owen and Gin’s relationship grow and hopefully see Gin and her sister reconcile a bit more. Can’t wait!!!!!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
Please don’t enter me. I already have my kindle copy of Spider’s Revenge pre-ordered so I can get it as soon as it comes out.
I’m looking forward to finally seeing what happens with Mab. I just read the short story from her point of view and it was chilling. I’m also looking forward to finding out more about Jo-Jo and Sophia, and all of the other characters. I love all of the cast members of this series.
I want to find out if Owen is too good to be true and for Gin to finally take Mab out I hope. Love this series. I am looking forward to reading this one. I want ot know more about Sophia and will Finn get his own love interest.
scrtsbpal at yahoo dot com
Sandy — Thanks! Glad you are enjoying the books.
Mandy — Thanks! Glad you are looking forward to Spider’s Revenge.
Erin — Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.
Jen — Thanks! I appreciate the nice words about the series.
Pam — Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.
Yes I’m a follower of the Elemental Assassins series, and in Spider’s Revenge I’m curious to see Finn and Bria get together, I hope she leads him on a merry chase ;).
eckstein99@comcast.net
I absolutely adore the Elemental Assassin series, and I can’t wait to read Spider’s Revenge. I just want to find out what happens next with Gin and see if this is the book where she faces off with Mab Monroe and defeats her.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
I haven’t yet read the Elemental Assassin series, but I’ll definitely check it out. I’m about halfway through Touch of Frost and I’m loving it! It has been hard to put down. (I should have started it on the weekend. I’ve been a little tired at work since I’ve been up reading late.)
Stephanie — Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.
Barbara — Thanks! Hope you enjoy Spider’s Revenge.
Jean — Thanks! Glad you are enjoying Touch of Frost, and I hope you like the Elemental Assassin series too.
i LOVE this series! (and everything else she writes.. got the golden touch that one does!!) i really really want to find out where things are going with her and Owen in this one! (and if mab dies soon.. although i think gin has some torturing left to do to her!!) and to see if gin and her sister finally get together!
I love this series! I can’t wait to find out more about Mab Monroe and how Gin ultimately defeats her nemisis! I’m also curious to see how things develop between Gin and her sister.
Alaina — Thanks! That’s so nice of you to say. Glad you are enjoying my books.
Whitewolf — Thanks! Hope you enjoy the book.
I haven’t read these books yet, but they are on my list to read. As soon as I finish a couple of the series I’ve started, I’ll be picking these up!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Meredith — Cool. Hope you get a chance to check out the series.
I have not read any of the Elemental Assassin series yet, but im always up for new reads and authors:)
I have one of the later books that I won; however I refuse to read it before I read the previous books. In my case bills and my children take the forefront before I can get liesurely things like books. Yeah means I can go months before I can buy a book for myself. Good thing I have a large TBR pile.
I’m only on the second book (I was missing it and finally bought it when Border’s was closing) so I need to catch up a bit on the series. But what I loved about Spider’s Bit was Gin’s kick-butt attitude and her mysterious background. I can’t wait to delve further into Gin’s life! Best of luck with the new release.