
Format: ARC
Release Date:
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Which is stronger: blood ties or a battle-tested friendship?
It’s not easy being queen bee of an underworld abuzz with crooks and killers. Wielding my potent Ice and Stone elemental magic will only get me so far—my real secret is my tight-knit makeshift family, a motley crew of cops and criminals, dwarves and playboys. My foster brother Finnegan Lane is my right-hand man, but when his suddenly not-dead relative comes back into the picture, I’m the one on the outside looking in.
It’s funny how life works: one minute your best friend is rock-steady, and the next he’s doe-eyed and buying into this whole loving-relative routine to the point of ignoring you. I’d like to be happy for Finn, I really would. But all of my instincts are telling me that beneath the syrupy sweet demeanor and old-fashioned charm, this sudden interloper is planning something. The whole shtick leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This person might have avoided the grave once, but I’ll put anyone who hurts Finn in the ground—for good.

I've been looking forward to BITTER BITE since I read the excerpt in Spider's Bite. Next to Gin, Finn is my favorite character and I knew that this installment will rip him and me to shreds. And that it did and none of us are spared.
So Gin found out via Fletcher's files that Finn's mom, Dierdre Shaw, is still alive and she's not to be trusted because she's bad news. Diedre Shaw is also a powerful Ice elemental, an heiress, and was friends with Gin's mom at some point. BITTER BITE really throws the story wayyyy back and it let out a lot of worms from its silverstone can. I love all the flashbacks/nightmares that Gin have, it adds another nice piece of the puzzle of what Gin's life was like when Fletcher was still alive and how the dynamic was between the three of them.
I didn't hate Finn's mom as much as I thought I will. Maybe because I already know she's bad news from the get-go. I feel for Finn though, he's always been a happy-go-lucky dude, always dapper even when he's busting bad guys with Gin, even after Fletcher's death, he's still sunshiny. Deirdre, or having a mother after all these years, turns out to be Finn's Achilles heel. He knows that Dierdre is posing, but his longing for what she represents blinded him. Oh, it's so gut-wrenching!
And per usual JEstep ended BITTER BITE with another disturbing mystery that now shadows Gin's mother, Eira. From the beginning of the series, Eira's basically a martyr, but it seems she's not as saintly as Gin believes her to be. I also find Fletcher's little clues amusing, it's either he's helping Gin from the other side, or our beloved assassin and current boss of the underworld is very predictable like clockwork. Nevertheless, I'm curious to see how JEstep is going to unravel this part of Gin's past and if the results will be as devastating as Dierdre if not more.
ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN FREE READS


so so so so late! I need to read book 2! I don't even remember book 1!
ReplyDeleteSo many booooks
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should start this series because I've heard so many great things about it.
ReplyDelete*sighs* I haven't even started this series yet, Braine, and 14 books already sounds daunting! I know it's a series I'll enjoy, though, so maybe this summer, I'll play catch-up :) I'm really happy you keep enjoying it, because that probably means i will as well.
ReplyDeleteLexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Still haven't started this series yet. Glad to see it has some gripping, tough moments this far in.
ReplyDeleteAt some point, I should get to this series because I did enjoy her YA books! I'm glad that this series is still going strong for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that this series is still going so strong! I need to play catch up in the worst possible way! I think I'm only on book five!
ReplyDeleteOh such dedication to a series! I'm jealous. Lol.
ReplyDeleteHa! I just started the 2nd book the other day. Goodness, there are a lot of these books. I had no idea the series was so large. Sad to see no Donovan Caine in there. :( I was hoping he'd get over their differences and stick around.
ReplyDeleteYay for featuring your fave character
ReplyDeleteThsi is one of those long running series that I keep saying I am going to read but at fourteen books it is intimidating now. I need to just get cracking and try it.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one as well, but I HATED D. Don't mess with Finn! LOL I cannot wait to see what is in store for our group next.
ReplyDeleteFinished up one up too. Do you think there will be a big bad villain in the next book? I mean, they are going to circle territory based on the blurb.
ReplyDeleteGads, well I am glad to see you are still loving it. This series is on my list, first BDB, Chicagoland Vampires and Psy-Changelings are being worked on.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit behind on this series but plan/hope to listen to the next one (whichever one I'm on) soon. I really do enjoy them and Finn is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind everyone on these awesome series! I have book ten in this series, but I have yet to get the previous books. I think I may just hit the library, once I catch up on some more series that I'm reading. Glad you loved it!
ReplyDeleteoh I so need to read this series!!! Loving this genre though.
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad you enjoyed this one. I've already pre-ordered the audio.
ReplyDeleteArg I am so behind on this series, so I didn't fully read your review. I think Widow's Web was the last one I read? I have the next 3 or so books, but haven't read them yet. I am glad to hear this series is still going strong!
ReplyDeleteUgh! 14th book! I've only read the first one. lol. It was okay, but I wasn't as blown away with it like everyone else. I need to get back to the series though. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to go into a book an not expect too much from a character because you already dislike her. I do love the sound of Finn. I need to read this series!
ReplyDeleteAlthough you're far into the series by now, it sounds like it still maintains the momentum! So glad you enjoyed it Braine!
ReplyDelete