Review: Venom by Jennifer Estep

Title: Venom
Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin, #3
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Pages: 389
Rating:

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.

Owen drained the rest of his tonic. “You know, I’m not used to waiting for a woman to call.” “Well, then this new experience will be good for your ego,” I replied.

Oh my, this Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep is getting better and better by the book. I extremely enjoyed VENOM. I mean you have this amazing heroine that seriously knows how to kick some "bad guy" butt! VENOM was definitely more action-packed and funnier which I loved and there is definitely more growth by each and every book. I will get this out of the way. I hate the way we get the stupid repetition it really un-necessary to have to read about stuff that I have known for the last two book and it's extremely annoying.

“I’m just wondering how exactly I went from being the Spider to the Robin fucking Hood of the greater Ashland area... Instead of stealing from the rich, I’m stabbing them to death for the poor.”

But anyways, in VENOM Gin finally comes face to face with her long lost baby sister, Bria. But Gin doesn't let Bria know who she actually is. And stuff with Mab and her sick bad freaks has been getting out of hand lately. By the end of the book, Gin finally comes to the decision to go after Mab and make her pay for not only everything she has done, but for destroying her family. We find out some answers to quite a few questions that had crossed my mind and look forward to more of this amazing world of the Elemental Assassin.

“I don’t judge you for what you’ve done, Gin. Why are you judging me for another man’s mistakes? Because Donovan Caine did make a mistake,” Owen said in a soft voice. “Letting someone like you go.”

And I must say it again, I have fallen madly in love with Owen Grayson. It takes my breath away. He says the perfect thing at the right times and he wants to be with Gin for her and nothing else. And I think Gin made some good realizations in the relationship department in this book. I think Owen is a good match for Gin because of his past and he is a man who cares about who you are in the inside not what you are. He is such a better match that that idiot, Donovan Caine. I hope things go smoothly for Owen and Gin!

“Are you sure he’s in there?” I asked. Finn grinned. “Baby, would I lie?” I stared at him. “Okay, frequently,” he admitted. “But you can trust me on this.

I hate the bad guys to death and I for one am glad that Gin is taking them down and hope by the end we get a really good showdown between Gin and Mab. This series is so bad ass that I would not accept anything less. The action sequences are amazing and how could you not love the dialogue as well! I am becoming more impressed with Elemental Assassin Series by the minute.