** I received a copy of this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. **

I jumped into this series with this book and so was missing quite a bit of background information but still found the book entirely enjoyable and the characters and world very well developed. The idea of a world in which magic is the norm is not a new one but it is well done in this book and the writing and development was done well enough to make me want to go back and read all the preceding books in this series!

I liked this one and I feel sorry for Finn even though he was an asshole for most of the book... But... I'm getting downright annoyed with this series. How many times were we told how amazing Gin's magic is? How powerful? Yet consistently she faces someone who is stronger. At least we knew she was strongest ice elemental. Wrong. Apparently Deirdre was... I mean I'd actually like to see Gin do something with her magic other than stone skin, ice picks and ice daggers... Ok she did break the floor in this one but every other elemental performs some cool tricks with their magic except for our main character who apparently refuses to learn anything new.
Ah well I'll more than likely keep reading this series. Invested too much time and effort into it already. Still annoyed though.

I really enjoyed this story and am anxious for the next release. I love Gin's family and the interactions. Owen took awhile to grow on me but now I can't see her with anyone else. This book offered some nice transitions to our Elemental Assassin's journey...

Rating: 3.5 stars

I think of the Elemental Assassin series as more of a UF snack rather than a deeply satisfying urban fantasy meal. It just lacks the depth and complexity of my favorite series. But, at the same time,there is enough consistency in the writing for it to be entertaining.

With this book, I can't help but think Gin needs a new set of friends and family. Or maybe Ms. Estep needs to find a different angle. There aren't many left in Gin's Scooby gang that haven't turned their back on her in some way. In this book, we see it happen yet again.

On the other hand, Ms. Estep has introduced a new underworld element that has the potential to bring back some of the tension that has been missing since Gin took down Mab several books back. One can only hope.

Fin's supposedly dead mom shows back up and we have to go through the same nonsense as when Owen's former flame showed up. Retread. The only difference is that Estep sets up further questions about a secretive group that claims to be the real criminal leaders in town.

Spoiler

There's also the stupidity of the team just watching as mom tortures Fin and provides exposition. Gin's an assassin, she should have killed the woman then.

Not one of Estep's best efforts.

I was gifted this book via Netgalley.

It's hard to leave a review without spoiling some major plotlines of other books that have come previously, but I will say that I really enjoyed this one. I felt like the recaps weren't too prominent like in some past books - they were more useful than just fillers. The plotline had me slackjawed. It was SO good. Finn was quite frustrating, as was the new character. You just wanted to shake them both. The ending was great too. I love seeing where this is going! Thoroughly impressed with this one!

Gin Blanco is worried about Deidre Snow, Fin's supposed-to-be-dead mother. How will she tell him and what is Deidre really after? After she finds out his mother's been communicating with Fin for weeks now, Gin is even more worried. When events at a fundraiser brings things to a smallhead, Fin starts to spend more and more time with Deidre, ignoring the important people in his life. This makes Gin even more determined to find out what Deidre wants. The problem is Deidre is acting perfectly, even when Gin spies on her. Is Gin losing her touch? What Gin eventually finds out what is going on, she is stunned. Everything she thought about her life may have been lie.

Reading reviews after I read a book can be a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. According to reviews, some people have turned away for the series because the books have a similar theme, but interestingly enough, other people like that. I am one of the latter ones. I love the Elemental Assassin series because the books always make me feel like the characters are old friends I get to see once a year, with all the flaws of real people. All the characters are fully-fleshed out now, I know them pretty well, and know when they make an uncharacteristic mistake/decision/misstep. That doesn't make the books boring, unreadable, or old. To me, it makes me feel like I'm coming home. I am always entertained, the books are always hard to put down because of the wonderful action and plot, and they are always well-written. Exactly what I want in a book. I am not reading to pull apart books, I am reading to be entertained and, with Ms. Estep's books, I am always entertained. If you are new to the series, please start from the beginning. You will not regret it. And, if you have read the series, read this one. The ending was thrilling because I feel we are going in a very interesting direction, and I am excited to find out where we are going. And, I trust the author to do an excellent job as always. Pick this up as soon as it's available and you won't regret it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-bitter-bite-jennifer-estep/

Throughout the previous thirteen installments in the Elemental Assassins series I’ve praised Finnegan Lane and his constant level of dependability in Gin Blanco’s life. Through thick and thin, no matter what the situation, it’s always been the unflappable, charming Finn who has stood behind Gin and offered support and a helping hand. Sure Owen and Bria are unquestionably on her side now, but there have been times over the course of this series where I’ve been disappointed in each of them and upset over how they let my favorite assassin down. But not Finn, never Finn. To say I went into Bitter Bite with a bit of apprehension would be an understatement.

After discovering that Finn’s mother might still be alive, Gin is determined to get as much information as possible. Which leads her to Fletcher’s office and a file on the mysterious Deirdre. Digging up her grave only leads to more questions when Gin finds it empty save for a Silverstone box full of pictures, mementos, and letters left for her and Finn by Fletcher. But what does it all mean? And how does she tell her brother that his long dead mother might possibly be alive and well somewhere in the world?

Unfortunately, Dierdre has already infiltrated Finn’s life and is more than ready to catch up for lost time. To say Finn is bewitched by his long-lost mother is an understatement. But Gin has a feeling Mama Dee is up to no good and will eventually break her brother’s heart in the process. So she’ll sit and wait and watch, then do what the Spider does best, and that’s protecting the family and friends she holds dear by any means possible.

As with any book in this series the action picks up almost immediately and Gin finds herself caught in the web of yet another mystery. Only, this time, it’s much closer to home and could change certain relationship dynamics I’ve come to trust and rely on. Deirdre is flashy, charming, and does her best to endear herself to the son she left so many years ago. She spins wild tales about Fletcher’s involvement in her departure that go against everything Gin knows about her foster-father. Despite Finn ignoring his sister’s warnings and giving the cold shoulder to the rest of his friends and family, I could actually understand why he behaved the way he did. Oh, I knew it would all blow up into a big, huge mess by the end, but I was right there alongside Gin wishing I would end up being mistaken.

Sadly neither Gin nor I were wrong. While I had quite a bit of anxiety over what the consequences would be to Finn, Gin and their relationship, it seems like they managed to come out the other side stronger than ever.

While Bitter Bite features Finn’s mother, she isn’t really the main villain. She isn’t even the most powerful. That mysterious player stayed in the background throughout most of this book, yet I have a feeling his involvement will grow as the series goes forward. The fourteenth installment has opened new doors that promise to bring new life to this series. Ms. Estep has managed to surprise me yet again. I always thought that after the death of Mab Monroe and later of her daughter, readers saw the end of the original story arc. I’m kind of wondering if this wasn’t the plan all along… to circle back around to some of the original players after Gin had grown both mentally and physically as a character. Now I have no idea what is going to happen next or if everything that’s gone before has all been a smoke screen to something much bigger. This leads me to wondering how many more books are planned for this series and how deep this new mystery will get.

Bitter Bite hit all my Elemental Assassin buttons. I love this series, and even after fourteen books still can’t get enough of this world or these characters. Thankfully, I won’t have to wait long to see what new adventure the Spider and her crew get tangled up in next, Unraveled, book fifteen, has a release date of August 30, 2016. Final Grade- A-

Favorite Quote:

“Shh, shh, it’s okay,” I whispered, trying to soothe him. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

But things were anything but okay right now, and the tears kept streaming down and freezing on Finn’s face.

2.5 stars. This book isn't bad but I keep wondering why I keep reading when I have no interest in what happens to Gin. The story is OK I'm just sort of over it. I do love the secondary characters.

When someone who should be dead starts poking around your town it is bound to cause suspicions. When that person is your foster brother's dead mother it is even more so. So Jen sets out to uncover the truth. Only to find a box in what should be a full grave from you also dead foster father. Now you know that not only is Deirdra back from the dead but shes up to something. But what?

Fight your way to the truth with Jen in Bitter Bite.

I have to admit, this book took me forever to get through and I cannot say that I was overly thrilled with it. It had a nice plot but it was boring to my taste. This book has a lot of action in it and has a magical quality- in that magic is used. If you are interested in crime bosses, betrayal, and death you may enjoy this book.