Mini-Review: Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep

Title: Widow's Web
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #7
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 08/21/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

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.

Mini-Review: This was yet another fantastic installment to one of my favorite urban fantasy series of all time. Even after seven books, the author still surprises me every time. I really enjoyed getting more of Owen's backstory, since until now only bits and pieces have been hinted to. This novel was yet another tangled puzzle for Gin to figure out, and it had its fair share of twists and turns. As always, I was glued to my kindle as I gobbled the story up. The author provides just enough backstory that I don't feel lost as I get back into this wonderfully gritty world. Salina was definitely an interestingly evil character, and I liked learning more about her water elemental powers. I think one of my favorite parts of this series is how the author introduces us to at least one new elemental power per novel, and after seven novels they feel almost real because of all that I have learned about them. The secondary characters are what really makes this series. As much as I love rough and tough Gin, Finn and Sophia may be my favorite characters. As far as the cover, I'm not sure if I like the stepback idea as much as everyone else. The white does stand out very well on my bookcase. Plus, the image under the stepback fits in with the rest of the series. I think it just boils down to the fact that I don't really like change.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 4.5 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC for review from the author.

Review: By A Thread by Jennifer Estep

Title: By A Thread
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #6
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 02/28/12
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation.

Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider -- me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun. But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand -- permanently.

Plot: 5 Stars
I feel like a broken record, but I absolutely loved this novel. Although she was supposed to be relaxing and enjoying her vacation, Gin ended up getting into yet another dire situation that left me wondering how she'd make it out alive. Gin always surprises me with the situations she gets in, and then the lengths she must go to to get out of said situations. The author does a great job of putting her in mortal peril, while keeping her escapes completely believable.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel started out with a bang, as Gin takes care of another threat that dropped by the Pork Pit after hours. She finally gives in to Finn's idea of a vacation. Of course, it wouldn't be a vacation for Gin if it didn't involve at least a little bit of killing. I loved how quickly she became involved in the local mob boss problems without even trying. There were a number of times I had to remind myself that Gin would make it (book seven comes out in August), because I wasn't sure she would and I couldn't put the book down.

Characters: 5 Stars
The strong characters and relationships were the best part of this installment in the series. Not only did we get to see more of Gin, Finn, Bria, and Owen, but there were new characters and someone from Gin's past. Gin gets to meet Bria's best friend, Callie, who also owns her own restaurant. After a meal at the restaurant, Gin and company get dragged into the local mob boss' politics when he sends some goons to threaten Callie. And then Donovan makes an appearance. I enjoyed reading as Gin dealt with the reappearance of Donovan, and how she dealt with him. The mob boss of Blue Marsh was a crazy S.O.B. and definitely made for an eventful vacation.

Cover: 5 Stars
This series is totally blessed by the cover gods. Each stands out in its own way, but they all work together and look fantastic on my bookshelf. The bright green of this cover grabs the eye, and also depicts the setting of the novel very well. My favorite part of the cover is how the cover model's jeans fade into the green of the background, but her blue tank top stands out. I'm not sure if I'd be running around in those heels if I was killing people, but they make the model seem like a badass (even without the knife on her belt). I also really enjoy that the cover model is facing forward completely, showing off the rune in her palm, as if to say, "Yeah, I'm the Spider. What are you gonna do about it?" And lastly, I will always enjoy the font choices of this series.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an e-ARC of this novel for review.

Mini-Review: Thread of Death by Jennifer Estep

Title: Thread of Death
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #5.5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/31/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Summary:

Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, might have finally killed her nemesis, Mab Monroe, but that doesn’t mean that it’s smooth sailing. Gin goes to Mab’s funeral to say her goodbyes and runs into some of Ashland’s most notorious underworld power players, including Jonah McAllister and Phillip Kincaid. McAllister wants her dead, and Kincaid has his own murky motives when it comes to the Spider, and Gin once again finds herself fighting for her life. Only this time, she might wind up in the cemetery right next to Mab...

Mini-Review: This novella was a great bridge between books five and six in this series. It allowed the author to elaborate on the funeral, without bogging down book six. Although I enjoyed getting other characters' points of view, it did seem to slow the pace down just a touch compared to the rest of the series. I enjoyed getting into the other characters' heads, but found I missed Gin's inner monologue at the same time. The cover is a fantastic edition to the series. It fits in perfectly, and has the same level of detail.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Pace: 4 Stars
Characters: 4.5 Stars
Cover: 4.5 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novella from the author.

Review: Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider's Revenge
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Reviewed by: Sara
But the Book:

Summary:

Old habits die hard for assassins.
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, 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 Mab 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 Ice and Stone magic -- and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson -- to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good 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.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
The epic showdown that all readers of this series have been waiting for: Gin vs. Mab. I could not wait to dig into this novel because I've wanted this showdown to happen since I read the first book. I had pretty high expectations going in, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There were some twists and turns before the epic battle that left me gaping at the pages as I read. Even knowing that the sixth book in the series comes out in January, I was worried for Gin and company when the time came. There was a moment near the end that was a bit reminiscent of the last Harry Potter, but it really worked. It gave the reader a bit of insight into Gin. I also loved how this book continued to fill in the gaps in Gin's history.

Pace: 5 Stars
I could not put this novel down. This is definitely my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and the latest installment didn't disappoint. I haven't read a full-length novel as fast as I read this one in months. It was so refreshing to not want to put a book down. Even when the characters were planning their next move, it was anything but boring. Normally, the downtime between action scenes where the characters plan their next move can drag by a bit, but the author definitely has a way of leaving me on the edge of my seat before the action even begins. I also really enjoy how the author weaves in details of previous books. No matter how much time goes by between books, I'm never lost because each new novel includes the perfect amount of details.

Characters: 5 Stars
Although things are still tense, Gin and Bria are making progress. I really enjoyed their interactions in this novel as they tried to move forward. And with Bria hanging around more, Finn also got to know her more. The interactions between Bria and Finn were very entertaining. I was really excited to see more of Owen in this novel, especially when he was helping defend Gin. He was definitely a badass, and it was great to see him as more than just Gin's lover. This novel also involved a bit of growth for Gin. Normally a calm and cool assassin, she had a few moments that led to situations getting a bit out of hand. It was definitely a wild ride as she tried to get out of some sticky situations.

Cover: 5 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is how it embodies the epic showdown between Mab and Gin, fire and ice. It makes the cover stand out in the series. The first four covers were a bit more monochromatic, but this cover is a nice mix of complementary colors. The grayish-blue of the sky and stones really makes the orange of the fire stand out. I also really love the pose of the cover model. I just wish one of her spider runes were visible. This is the first cover in which neither of her palms are showing off the spider rune. This series has some of the best covers around because of the details. The setting of the covers are always specific scenes from the book, and this one is no different.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this novel for review from the author, and also received a finished copy as a gift from my girlfriend.

Author Interview + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

I'd like to welcome back urban fantasy author Jennifer Estep! She's the author of two wonderful series, the urban fantasy Elemental Assassins series and the young adult Mythos Academy series. Today, we're celebrating the recent release of her fifth Elemental Assassins book, Spider's Revenge.

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Sara: How would you describe Spider’s Revenge, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?

Jennifer: Spider’s Revenge in the fifth book in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that was released on Sept. 27. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can cotrol the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals –- Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone. Other books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads.

In Spider’s Revenge, Gin is gearing up to finally go toe-to-toe with Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered Gin’s family when Gin was a kid. Also, Gin has to deal with the bounty hunters that Mab has hired to come to Ashland to track down the Spider –- and there’s a bounty on the head of Gin’s sister, Bria, as well. So there’s a lot of action in the book, which I hope will appeal to readers.

Sara: Do you have a favorite character to write? Is there a character that’s a bit harder than the rest to write?

Jennifer: Finnegan Lane, Gin’s foster brother, is a lot of fun for me to write. Finn is a shameless, greedy womanizer who says exactly what he wants to whenever he wants to –- no matter who’s listening or what the consequences might be. Finn usually gets the best and funniest lines.

Bria is a bit difficult to write at times, mainly because her character is in between two worlds. On one hand, Bria is a good, honest cop. On the other, she has Gin, an assassin, as her sister. So it’s sometimes challenging to have Bria straddle those two worlds and have her struggle with where her heart and loyalties lie versus her job.

Sara: How many more novels set in Gin’s world can we look forward to?

Jennifer: I am currently under contract for two more Elemental Assassin books. By a Thread, the sixth book, will be released in March 2012, while the seventh book (untitled) is scheduled for an August 2012 release.

I’d love to write even more books in the series beyond these. I think there are a lot of Gin stories left to tell.

Sara: If Gin could work together with any Urban Fantasy hero or heroine, who would you want her to work with?

Jennifer: Good question! Hmm. There are a lot of great heroes and heroines in urban fantasy, but I would say Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. I think Gin and Harry would make a pretty formidable team, with her deadly skills and his magic. Plus, I think it would just be fun to have Gin hang out with Bob the skull, Murphy, and the other characters in the series.

Sara: If you could have an elemental power, which element would you choose?

Jennifer: Well, my hands are almost always cold, so I would have to go with Ice magic. LOL. Plus, it would be handy for cooling down on a hot summer day, and we’ve had plenty of those this year.

Really, though, I think all the elemental powers in my books would be cool to have. It would be interesting (and dangerous!) to be able to create fire with your bare hands or turn your skin into the equivalent of human marble so that nothing could hurt you. I always have a lot of fun thinking about the elemental magic and how Gin and all the other characters can use it and what they might do with it.

Sara: Do you have any other projects in the works? Are there any genres you’d like to branch out to in the future?

Jennifer: I also write the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. 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.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, was released in August. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a 99-cent download. Kiss of Frost, the second book, will be released Nov. 29. Dark Frost, the third book, will be out in June 2012.

Also, Halloween Frost, a Mythos Academy e-story, can be found in the Entangled e-anthology that I am participating in with several other authors. The e-anthology is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. All proceeds from Entangled will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. For more information about all my books, folks can visit my website at www.jenniferestep.com.

I’d love to branch out into even more genres. I’d love to write a western someday, along with a romantic suspense book and a heist book.

Sara: I saw that your Bigtime novels are being released in e-book format with new covers. Can you tell us a bit more about them?

Jennifer: Of course. The Bigtime paranormal romance series features sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love. The books are set in Bigtime, a fictional city where everything is bright, colorful, fun, and larger-than-life, including the zany characters.

Books in the series are Karma Girl, Hot Mama, and Jinx, and they are available as $2.99 e-books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, and Smashwords.

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Jennifer: I’m in between books right now, but some of the titles in my TBR pile are Carte Blanche by Jeffrey Deaver; Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick; Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter; Last Chance by Christy Reece; and Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman -– along with about twenty other books. I always wish I had more time to read. Happy reading, everyone!

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Thanks again for stopping by, Jennifer! Thanks to Jennifer, I have one (1) copy of Spider's Revenge to giveaway to a lucky person! To enter, just leave a valid e-mail address.

Giveaway Rules:
1. US only
2. Must leave a valid e-mail address
3. Giveaway will be open until midnight October 9th
4. Winner will be chosen using random.org October 10th

Title: Spider's Revenge
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassins #5
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/27/11
Summary:

Old habits die hard for assassins.
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, 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 Mab 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 Ice and Stone magic—and my irresistible lover, Owen Grayson -- to watch my back. This battle has been years in the making, and there’s a good 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.

Character Interview + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

First off, I'd like to thank Jennifer Estep for dropping by the blog again. Her latest Elemental Assassins book, Tangled Threads, comes out next Tuesday (04/26) and it was amazing. You can see my review here. Today, Jennifer will be interviewing her main character, Gin Blanco. Hope you all enjoy!

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Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Sara for having me on the blog. Thanks, Sara! ;-)

So today, Sara asked me to interview one of the characters from my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, and I decided to talk to Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider and the star of the series. Here’s what Gin had to say for herself:

JE: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Gin.

GB: My name is Gin, and I kill people. That’s all you need to know.

JE: Okay, someone’s a little touchy today. Can you at least tell us a little about your latest adventure in Tangled Threads?

GB: *Sighs.* If you insist. In Tangled Threads, I learn that my nemesis, Fire elemental Mab Monroe, has hired an assassin named Elektra LaFleur to come to Ashland to track down and kill the Spider, aka me. I’m not too worried about Elektra, though, even if she does have deadly electrical elemental magic. What I’m more concerned about is this little girl who’s been kidnapped –- a girl that I’ve vowed to find and bring home to her father. Too bad LaFleur and Mab want to keep that from happening.

JE: Sounds like there’s quite a showdown between you and LaFleur in the book.

GB: You could say that. Let’s just say that my silverstone knives get very bloody before it’s all said and done –- and so does LaFleur. *Chuckles at her own joke.*

JE: And what about Owen Grayson, the sexy businessman that you hooked up with in Venom? Is he still in the picture?

GB: Definitely. Owen’s back, as well as Finn and the Deveraux sisters. I’m not sure what to think about Owen, though. I’m starting to really like him, so much that it scares me a little, especially since my last relationship with Donovan Caine ended so badly... *Stares off into space.*

JE: *Clears throat.* Anyway, what happens with your sister Bria in the book? We all know that she’s back in Ashland and that she’s a police detective who’s hot on the trail of the elusive Spider.

GB: I’m not sure what to do about Bria either. On the one hand, I want to tell her that I’m really her long-lost big sister Genevieve Snow. On the other, I’m not sure that she’ll understand about me being a notorious assassin either. Decisions, decisions...

JE: Indeed. Well, besides going up against another assassin, can you tell us what else is in store for you?

GB: If things go the way that I want them to with LaFleur, I’ll be back in Spider’s Revenge, which will hit shelves in October. Until then, I’ll be doing the same old, same old. Running the Pork Pit, cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland, and facing down any trouble that comes my way.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals -– Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, and Venom. Tangled Threads, the fourth book, will be published on April 26, while Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released in October.

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.

The first book, Touch of Frost, will be out in August, while the second book, Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves in December. First Frost, a prequel e-short story to the series, will be out in July. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for excerpts and more.

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Thanks again to Jennifer for stopping! She has also offered up a copy of Tangled Threads to a lucky reader! All you have to do is answer Jennifer's question: Who are some of your favorite Urban Fantasy authors?

Title: Tangled Threads
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 04/26/11
Summary:

I’d rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.

But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson’s front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesn’t shy away from my past -- or my present. And right now I have a bull’s-eye on my forehead. Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there’s a fifty-fifty chance one of us won’t survive this battle. I intend to kill LaFleur -- or die trying -- because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I’m her long-lost sibling... or that I’m the murderer she’s been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn’t know just might get us both dead...

Giveaway Rules:
Open to US/Canada.
Must answer Jennifer's question.
Must leave a valid e-mail address.
Contest ends at midnight on Friday 29th.

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

Today I'd like to welcome Jennifer Estep, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Venom, the third novel in her Elemental Assassins series, which released on September 28th. You can see my 5 Star review here. Her topic for this guest blog is why she writes Urban Fantasy. I found it very interesting, and hope you do to!

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Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Sara for having me on the blog today. Thanks, Sara!

Some of you might know me as the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vam¬pires, and elementals == Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

The first two books in the series are Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies. Venom, the third book, came out on Sept. 28. Tangled Threads, the fourth book, will be published in May 2011, while the fifth book (untitled) will be released in October 2011.

I’ve also sold a young adult urban fantasy series called Mythos Academy. The first book is called Touch of Frost and will be out in August 2011. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 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 finds herself shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendents of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and more.

So Sara asked me to talk today about why I write urban fantasy.

The truth? Because I suck at writing epic fantasy. Seriously. That’s it. That’s my big secret. I can’t write epic fantasy, so I write urban fantasy instead. LOL.

It all started back in high school and college when I read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien. After Tolkien, I moved on to other epic fantasy authors like David Eddings and Terry Brooks. Somewhere along the way, I decided that I wanted to write my own epic fantasy novel.

So I did -- and it was terrible. It had just about every cliché in it that you can imagine, namely that a farm girl discovers that she has Powerful Magic and a Great Big Destiny to fulfill.

Of course, I didn’t know it was terrible back then, so I sat down and I wrote a second epic fantasy book. It wasn’t quite as cliché as the first one, but it wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination. After that, I started a couple more epic fantasy books before I realized that as much as I loved reading the genre, I just wasn’t that great writing it. I just didn’t really like describing the sort of medieval world that you find in a lot of epic fantasy books.

So one day, I decided to set my latest book in a modern-day setting -- and it was like a light bulb came on over my head. The book and descriptions were so much easier to write, and the story flowed so much better. It wasn’t my best work, but it put me on the right path.

Ever since then, all my fantasy books have been in a modern setting. For some reason, I just find it easier to write about a world where there’s electricity and cars and indoor plumbing. LOL.

Plus, I really like the urban fantasy genre. I like reading it, and I love all the strong, sassy heroines in the genre. I wanted to add my own tough heroine to the mix with Gin Blanco, and urban fantasy let me do that, as well as create a really dark, gritty world for her to play in. Also, I love writing fight scenes, and you can’t have an assassin character without writing at least a few fight scenes in every book. ;-)

So there you have it – some of the reasons that I write urban fantasy.

What about you guys? What are some of your favorite urban or epic fantasy books?

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Thanks for stopping by Jennifer!

I also have a copy of Venom to give away, courtesy of Jennifer. All you have to do to be entered is answer Jennifer's question above! The giveaway is for US/Canada only, and will last until midnight Tuesday 10/19. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday 10/20.

Review: Venom by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 09/28/10
Summary:

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker -- Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer... who is about to save her life.

Plot: 5 Stars
Finally! Gin faces the bomb that was dropped at the end of Spider's Bite and begins to deal with the fact that her younger sister is alive. I still wanted more to come from this twist, but I understand given the circumstances that it'll take time. I love that Gin's retirement from the assassin game keeps getting interrupted by pro-bono work. Her target in this novel isn't just anyone, it's one of Mab Monroe's top dogs. It was great to watch her go after someone that played into her eventual endgame, and not just some random bad guy. It was also interesting to see how events from past novels shaped the plot for Venom. Without certain events from happening in past books, she wouldn't have had a specific reason to go after Mab's enforcer and get her plan in motion.

Pace: 5 Stars
I couldn't put this novel down. One of my favorite parts about getting into a series (especially when the books are released so close together) is that I get so immersed in a world and a group of characters that I already love. The author doesn't need to bog the novel down with introductions to the characters and setting, and can just jump right into the action. This novel had twists and turns around every corner, many of them catching me by complete surprise. The author is one of the best I've read at composing such intricate and well developed plots that keep me engaged from page one, until the end.

Characters: 5 Stars
Not only did we see even more development in Gin's character, but we're also introduced to her younger, long-lost sister. We get a good taste for Bria and how the death of their mother and oldest sister shaped her into the young women we're introduced to. Gin did a great job of keeping Bria at arms length without driving her away or causing too much suspicion. Owen Grayson was a very interesting character. After getting quick glimpses of him in Web of Lies it was great to get to know him better. Especially when he inadvertantly got himself tangled up in Gin's mess throughout the novel. And of course, I loved seeing more of Finn, JoJo, and Sophia.

Cover: 4.5 Star
I love the colors of this cover. It really matches the emotions and setting of the novel. The details in the background are fantastic. I love the details on the riverboat. This series has been gifted with great cover art. The attention to detail is some of the best I've seen in the genre. The covers always include an actual place and scene from the novel, instead of just a random cityscape. My only complaint, and it's quite minor, is the positioning of the cover model. The pose seems a bit forced and unnatural. I understand that the spider rune on the model's palm is a big part of Gin's character, but I feel like a different pose could've shown it off and felt more natural.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this book from the author and also bought a copy of this book for my own enjoyment.

Author Interview: Jennifer Estep

Today I'd like to welcome back Jennifer Estep, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Web of Lies, which released on May 25th and is the second novel in her Elemental Assassins series. You can see my review here.

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Sara: How would you describe your novels, Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies, for readers who haven’t heard of it before?
Jennifer: Spider’s Bite and Web of Lies are the first two books in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Spider’s Bite was released in February 2010, and Web of Lies just came out on May 25. The third book in the series, Venom, will hit shelves on Sept. 28.

Sara: How would you describe Gin using only three words?
Jennifer: Sassy, sarcastic, strong.

Sara: Why did you decide to make Gin an assassin? Were you worried her career path would be viewed negatively?
Jennifer: I’ve always loved reading assassin books, especially in fantasy literature, because assassins can be everything from crazy and creepy to cool and in control. The more I read about assassins, the more I wanted to write my own assassin book with my own magic system and world building. So one day, I did, and Gin Blanco was born.

I know that not everyone likes books about assassins, and that’s okay. Different strokes for different folks, and all that. To me, the biggest challenge was having Gin be an assassin and still making her a likable character. To that end, Gin has hobbies, quirks, and hang-ups, just like the rest of us do. Gin loves to cook and read, and she’s fiercely protective of the people that she considers her family. I think that’s a trait that everyone can admire.

I think your character can have any kind of job you want -- even being an assassin -- as long as the reader is able to relate to her in some way, as long as you humanize her in some way. Hopefully, I’ve done that with Gin.

Sara: When I think of elemental powers I think of earth, wind, fire, and air. But within your books there are other elemental powers such as stone and ice. What made you decide on the elemental powers specific to your series?
Jennifer: I wanted to do something a little different from what folks usually think of as the four elements, so my four elements are Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone. When I started writing the Elemental Assassin series, I knew that I wanted two elements to compliment each other -- like Air and Fire, and Ice and Stone. And I wanted two elements to oppose each other -- like Air and Stone, and Fire and Ice. So it just made sense to me to use a different set of elements.

Also, I thought by using Ice and Stone that I could come up with some really cool powers for both Gin and the bad guys to use. So far, I think it’s worked out well. I’m having fun writing about these elements, and I hope readers think that I’m using them in interesting ways.

Sara:If Gin could work together with any Urban Fantasy heroine, who would you want her to work with?
Jennifer: Hmm, that’s a toughie just because there are so many great urban fantasy heroines out there. I would have to go with Karen Murphy from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series. Karen’s a cop, so she and Gin could work together to bring down a bad guy -- and then Karen could try to bring Gin to justice for all the bad things that she’s done. The cop and the assassin is always an interesting dynamic to play around with.

Sara: Can you give us a small description for Venom, the next book in the Elemental Assassin series?
Jennifer: Certainly. In Venom, Roslyn Phillips asks Gin to kill the man who is stalking her. Roslyn is the vampire madam who runs the nightclub Northern Aggression, and thanks to some events that take place in Web of Lies, Roslyn catches the eye of Elliot Slater, a giant who is one of Ashland’s most dangerous men. Since Gin feels responsible for Roslyn being stalked in the first place, she agrees to eliminate Slater, who happens to work for Mab Monroe, Gin’s nemesis. Readers will also find out more about Bria, Gin’s long-lost baby sister, and Gin makes an important decision regarding Mab Monroe. The book is really a turning point in the series in a lot of ways, as Gin decides on a new path in life for herself.

Venom is the third book in the series, and it will hit shelves on Sept. 28. Right now, I’m contracted for five Elemental Assassin books, with books four and five tentatively scheduled for 2011.

Sara: Who are your greatest influences, both in and out of the Urban Fantasy genre?
Jennifer: I read pretty widely -- fantasy, romance, spy thrillers, mysteries. For epic fantasy, I grew up reading folks like David Eddings and Terry Brooks. Some of the first folks I read in urban fantasy were Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison. In romance, I like Kresley Cole, Jeaniene Frost, Lisa Kleypas, and Linda Lael Miller.

I also love Donald E. Westlake, who wrote the Dortmunder comic crime caper novels, and his alter ego, Richard Stark, who wrote a series of novels about a thief named Parker. And I’ve got all the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming on my keeper shelf. Basically, I love books with a lot of action scenes, and I think that comes across in my own writing as my books are pretty action-packed. I love writing fight scenes.

Sara: What are you currently reading?
Jennifer: Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery. It’s a contemporary romance set in California. Contemporary romance is another genre that I’m interested in writing someday, and I always like to read what other folks are writing in any genre that I’m thinking about dabbling in.

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Feel free to leave comments and questions for Jennifer! I'll be stopping by periodically after I get some sleep (just got home from an overnight shift).

And here's the more information about Web of Lies for anyone interested:

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man... dead or alive.

Review: Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

Title: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10
Summary:

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man... dead or alive.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
Although I wished Gin would've looked a bit more into the bomb that was dropped at the end of Spider's Bite, I can understand her hesitance. Hopefully this plotline will be expanded on in the third novel, Venom. Besides this point, the plot drew me in immediately. Every piece of the puzzle fit together perfectly, and yet so many things completely surprised me. It was very interesting to see more of the elemental powers that Gin and other citizens of Ashland possess.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
Web of Lies was like a roller coaster: you speed through a bunch of twists and turns, and once you're finished you can't wait to do it again. The novel itself encompassed less than a week, but it was a completely believable timeline. Even when Gin took a step back and baked a delicious cobbler, the story didn't slow down. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire four hundred pages, and just couldn't get enough.

Characters: 5 Stars
Gin really showed some growth in this novel. After a stint of retirement, she takes a case out of morals instead of money. It's always good to be reassured that a tough-as-nails heroine has feelings and morals. Finnegan makes a great sidekick to Gin, although I'm sure he would be pissed to be referred to as a sidekick. He brought just the right amount of humor to the story. There were also a lot of new characters, both good and evil, and we got to know all of them pretty well. I was a little disappointed in Donovan, but I don't think this is the last we've seen of the good cop.

Cover: 4.5 Star
This series has been blessed with a fantastic cover artist. At first, I was confused by the brown background image, especially after Spider's Bite had such specific details added in. But once I finished the book and gave the cover another look, I was enlightened and realized the background image was from a crucial part of the book. I also love that the cover model has Gin's spider rune scars on her palms, and her silverstone knife. It actually feels like Gin is on the cover, and not just a model that can pass for her.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an eARC of this book from the author and also bought a copy of this book for my own enjoyment.

Teaser Tuesday (32)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Web of Lies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 05/25/10

So I pulled off my glove, put my hand on the granite, and listened to its vibrations. Slow, steady, solid, just like the rock itself. There was also a sense it was guarding something, protecting something important, valuable. Tobias Dawson's secrets, whatever they might be. -- pg. 211

Guest Blog + Giveaway: Jennifer Estep

Today I'd like to welcome Jennifer Estep, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Spider's Bite, which released on January 26th. You can see my 5 Star review here. Her topic for this guest blog is her writing process. I found it very interesting, and hope you do to! And stick around, there's a giveaway at the bottom of the post.

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Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to thank Sara for inviting me to guest blog. Thanks so much, Sara!

So today, Sara asked me to talk a little bit about my writing process. I have to admit that I’m a total “pantser.” That is to say, I don’t sit down and meticulously plot out my books before I write them the way that writers who refer to themselves as “plotters” do. I don’t do storyboards, write down information about my characters, or plan out what happens in each chapter. Usually, I just sit down and write. Sometimes, it turns out well. Sometimes, it doesn’t. But it’s the process that works for me.

Usually what happens is that I’ll get a “what if” idea for a specific scene or situation. For Spider’s Bite, the first book in my new Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, the idea was something like this – What if an assassin was double-crossed on a hit? What if her handler was murdered as a result? What would she do about it? (The answer, at least in Spider’s Bite, is find out who set her up and why, and then take that person out.)

I’ll think about my “what if” scene for a while, focusing on the main character and how whatever is happening will affect her – and then I’ll go from there. Once I have my character in mind and hear her voice in my head, that’s when I start figuring out the overall plot of the book, as well as the magic system, the world, the other characters, etc.

Now, I don’t really figure my plot out chapter by chapter, scene by scene. What I do is think of the opening of the story, then divide the book into thirds and think of a couple of turning points that drive the action for those parts of the book.

For example, in Spider’s Bite, the first turning point is my assassin character, Gin Blanco, getting double-crossed and her handler being murdered. That drives the action from the first third of the book all the way up to the second turning point, which is Gin going to meet/fight/kill the person responsible for her handler’s murder. That plot point then drives the action through the rest of the book.

When I have those plot points in mind, then it’s time to sit down and write my first draft. I really push myself to get the first draft done as quickly as possible, so I’ll write anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 words a day for about three weeks, until I have a draft that’s somewhere in the 50,000- to 70,000-word range. Why do I do this? For one, it helps me keep my story thread and characters in mind. Two, I have a day job, so my time to write is fairly limited. Three, I’m just anal in that I like to get one project done and then move on to something else. Writers. Sometimes, I think we’re all half-crazy. ;-)

After the first draft is done, I take a break for about a week or so (sometimes longer) before going back to the story. I read through the draft, seeing if the characters, world, setting, magic, plot, etc. all make sense, work together, and tell a good story – in other words, if it’s a project worth pursuing. If so, then I start working on my second draft, which is where I go back through and flesh out things like descriptions, character quirks, etc. I usually go through the book three or four times, adding in more and more detail and tweaking everything, until I have a finished draft of about 100,000 words that is the absolute best book that I can make it.

All of this usually takes me several months. Sometimes, shorter. Sometimes, longer. It all just depends on what else is going on and what the demands on my time are as to how long it takes me to finish a book.

After that, the book gets sent to my agent, who reads it and gives me her feedback and asks me to do revisions, if necessary. Once those revisions are done, a couple of different things can happen. If this is a new book/series that I’m working on, then my agent can try to sell the book/series. Or, if I’m already under contract for the book, it will then go to my editor, who reads it, gives me her feedback, and asks me to do revisions, if necessary.

It’s a long, long process, but it’s totally worth it. How do I know? Every time I get an e-mail from a reader telling me how much she enjoyed my book. That’s what makes it all worth while to me. ;-)

What about you guys? For all you writers out there, how do you go about crafting your books? And for readers, what are some of your favorite urban fantasy books? Share in the comments.

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And now for the giveaway. Jennifer has graciously offered one lucky commenter a signed copy of Spider's Bite. All you have to do is answer one of Jennifer's questions or ask her one of your own!

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way -- good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction... especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

Giveaway Rules:

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is open to the US and Canada only.
Please, only one comment per person.
Must answer or ask a question.

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday 02/12 and the winner will be announced Saturday 02/13. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Review: Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider's Bite
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/26/10
Summary:

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way -- good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction... especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
There were so many twists and turns in this book; some completely surprised me, others I saw coming. But it was great how every little bit of information came together to complete the puzzle of a plot perfectly. I also enjoyed how giants, dwarves, and vampires were integrated into the mix. The elemental magic was also a refreshing idea that is definitely unique to this book. And it's not a cliffhanger (so don't worry), but the author drops a bomb at the end of the book that has me counting down the days until the next book in this series comes out. I was hooked until the very last sentence.

Pace: 5 Stars
Although this book only encompasses a short span of time with a whole lot of action packed in, it's paced in a way that doesn't leave you thinking there's no way all of that could've happened in one day. There was never really a time in which the pace of the book slowed down. I found myself having trouble finding a good stopping point so that I could sleep, or go back to work after my break.

Characters: 5 Stars
Gin is a refreshing heroine to add to the Urban Fantasy genre. As an assassin, she definitely isn't shy about killing people. I loved her thought processes before, during, and after the fight scenes. Finnigan and Donovan were great supporting characters. They may not have left as many bodies in their wake, but without them, Gin would not have been successful. I love when a ragtag group takes on the bad guy, and not just the heroine; it definitely feels more real than one person taking on the world. There were also a couple smaller characters I hope to see more of in the future.

Cover: 5 Stars
I absolutely loved this cover! There were so many details relevant to the story, it was refreshing. From the spider runes on Gin's palms to the sign for the Pork Pit in the background, the cover really felt like it belonged to this book and this book only. I also liked that we don't see the cover model's face, because that allows the reader to imagine the character however they interpret the author's description.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I won an ARC of this book from a contest on Jennifer Estep's Blog.

Teaser Tuesday (17)

This weekly book blog meme is hosted by Misb at Should be Reading.

Here are the rules:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)
- Share the title & author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Title: Spider's Bite
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 01/26/10

As an added insurance, I tucked a silverstone knife under both of my pillows and put a few more on the nightstand within easy reach. Then I curled into a tight ball underneath the soft sheets. The tension in the body slowly unknotted, and I dreamed... -- pg. 124