ARC Review: The Spider (Elemental Assassin, #10) by Jennifer Estep

Title: The Spider (Elemental Assassin, #10) Author:  Jennifer Estep Publisher/Publication Date: Pocket Books, December 24, 2013 Source/Format:  Edelweiss/Publisher, E-ARC & Purchased/Paperback Genre: Urban Fantasy Amazon     Barnes & Noble Synopsis from the Back Cover How did I end up in a career where I always have blood on my hands? Well, let me tell you a story about an assassin who thought she could do no wrong. . . . Ten years ago.  A blistering hot August night. I remember like it was yesterday.  The night I, Gin Blanco, truly became the Spider.  Killing people is what I do best, especially now that I've honed my Ice and Stone magic.  But back then, I had yet to learn one very important rule:  arrogance will get you, every single time. This particular job seemed simple:  murder a crooked building contractor with ties to ruthless Fire elemental Mab Monroe.  My mentor, Fletcher Lane, had some misgivings, but I was certain that I had the situation under control. . . right up until I exposed my weaknesses to a merciless opponent who exploited every single one of them.  There's a reason assassins aren't supposed to feel anything.  Luckily, a knife to the heart can fix that problem, especially when I'm the one wielding it. . . .   My Thoughts When an origin story focuses on the history of one of its characters, It's often repetitive information provided throughout the series. That’s just not the case with Jennifer Estep’s book, The Spider. In my review of Heart of Venom, I posed this question:  “Have you met the Spider, Gin?” Now that I have read book #10 of the series, I know that you haven’t really met Gin until you read this book, which provides an in depth view of her past. For anyone who hasn’t started reading the Elemental Assassin series, as was true with Heart of Venom, The Spider is a great place to start. The story is well written and the characters are well-developed. Estep does an excellent job of portraying Gin in her early years as an overzealous novice who transforms into a hardcore assassin. The story will simply keep the reader on edge as lies unfold, Gin’s world starts to crumble, and the action heats up. The Spider is a must read if you are an urban fantasy fanatic. And needless to say that I am looking forward to reading additional books from the Elemental Assassin series. Rating 5/5 ****I received an e-arc from Edelweiss/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased a paperback copy, because I plan to read the series from the beginning during 2014. ****