Review: Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Elemental assassin book 1

Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: 384
Published: Jan 2010

"My name is Gin, and I kill people."

My name is Gin Blanco. They call me the Spider — the most feared assassin in the South (and a part-time cook at the Pork Pit BBQ joint.) As a Stone elemental, I can hear the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet and feel the vibrations of the soaring mountains above me, though I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

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

I have read a lot of great reviews, but sadly this one was for me, ok. I never got sucked in, and sure it was a good book but it didn't manage to really grab my attention.

The concept of this world is good. Everyone knows what is out there. Some people have elemental powers, but just because of this they are not any higher up than others. Everyone has to fight their way to the top (of course if you do have the power of fire that might help.) There are also giants, dwarfs, and vampires. Many of those women tend to be hookers that high on sex and blood. Because of this mix of magic and races no one can take control over the other.

The world Gin lives in is pretty dark, but then again she is an assassin. The can see the downside to it all, the vampire hookers, the poor elementals that have gone insane and the beggars. And there is her, she gets paid to kill people. But she does have standards and kill only the bad guys, or people that is said to be bad. She is rather cool and kick-ass (oh my fav word, I can use it again.) To her help she has her handler Fletcher, a dwarf that cleans up after her, Finn an old friend and Fletcher's son. Finn I do like, he has style, even if he is a total playboy.

In this book Gin is sent to kill someone but it all goes wrong and the dead bodies are piled up and she is on the run. Here is where the love interest comes in, the last honest cop, Donovan Caine. There is an attraction there and they are both pulled in. No romance here, just animal attraction, but hey maybe it comes later.

I liked the word, I liked the action, but for me something was missing. Something to pull me in and make me want to read more. I struggled in the beginning to keep my focus so perhaps not all UF books are for me. Still don't think I didn't like it, it was ok and it was a fun ride while it lasted. You better go on and read  one of those glowing reviews and have a look at them too.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Kick-ass, but I do not like the little text, "her love life is killer"

Reason for Reading: My own book

Final thoughts: Ok UF