Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn’t been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can’t tell who is friend–or foe. Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren’t what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone. With the kingdom she holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her fear and unlock the true secret of her magic–or watch her friends and family die and her beloved Andvari fall . . .
I’m not sure how I missed picking up the first series in this world created by Jennifer Estep. She’s definitely not a “new to me” author because I have been a fan since I was first introduced to Gin in the Elemental Assassin series. I’m just glad that I finally dove into the Gargoyle Queen series and now that I’ve been introduced to the world, it won’t be long until I pick up the Crown of Shards series.
Conquer the Kingdom picks up pretty much where Tear Down the Throne left off. As the description hints, there is a fine line between “friend and foe” and Gemma and her family have made the decision to keep some of those “foes” very close. Things aren’t exactly as they seem on a lot of levels in Conquer the Kingdom. The story is full of lots of twists, turns and some interesting confessions and some surprising allies.
As with all series with characters I’ve fallen in love with, I was sad to see this series end, but I’m kind of curious about what comes next. I’m pretty sure readers haven’t seen the last of this world. ❤
Crown princess. Clever spy. Powerful mind magier. Gemma Ripley of Andvari is all those things–and determined to stop an enemy from using magical tearstone weapons to conquer her kingdom. Gemma’s quest for answers leads her to a trade Summit between the various kingdoms. Among the other royals in attendance is Queen Maeven Morricone of Morta and her son, Prince Leonidas–Gemma’s charming and dangerous nemesis. Gemma knows that Maeven always has a long game in motion, and sure enough, the cunning queen invokes an arcane tradition that threatens the fragile truce between Andvari and the other kingdoms. Despite her best intentions, Gemma once again finds herself thrown together with Leo and battling her growing feelings for the enemy prince. When a series of deadly attacks shatters the Summit’s peaceful negotiations, Gemma realizes that someone wants to tear the royals down from their thrones–and that this enemy just might succeed.
At first I was thinking that up until I read Capture the Crown, the only series that I had read by Jennifer Estep was her Elemental Assassin series (which I’m currently totally caught up on, BTW.) But then I realized that wasn’t entirely true. I’ve also read Cold Burn of Magic and Dark Heart of Magic, the first two books in her Black Blade series. I guess my point to this rambling is that even though I’m a huge fan of this author, this is the first time in a while that I’ve strayed from my first love of Gin and her motley crew (who I adore.) Although I didn’t start with the first series in this world, it’s made me realize that I need to back track and explore the books in her Crown of Shards series (especially when I already own the first book. 😉 )
So how did Tear Down the Throne compare to Capture the Crown? I can honestly say that it was the perfect sequel. It was full of even more twists, turns, action, suspense and surprising revelations than the first installment. Along with the growing romantic tension between Gemma and Leo. Gemma spent most of the story trying to avoid her feelings for the prince, while Leo spent just as much time trying to prove to Gemma that his intentions were pure.
Alliances were tested and unexpected ones were formed. There were also moments where Gemma questioned the loyalty of people she thought she could trust without question. Gemma proved her strength though and even surprised herself more than once during the course of the Summit.
I loved the way things played out in Tear Down the Throne, but things are far from settled. Even though this story didn’t end in a cliff hanger, I still can’t wait for Conquer the Kingdom. Maybe now would be a good time to start Crown of Shards with Kill the Queen while I wait 😉
Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being a pampered princess who is more interested in pretty gowns, sparkling jewelry, and other frivolous things than learning how to rule the kingdom of Andvari. But her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that Gemma is a powerful mind magier—and a spy. Gemma is undercover, trying to figure out who is stealing large amounts of tearstone from one of the Ripley royal mines when she encounters Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta—her mortal enemy. Gemma tries to steer clear of the handsome prince, but when she finds herself behind enemy lines, she reluctantly joins forces with Leo. Also coming to Gemma’s aid is Grimley, her beloved gargoyle. Despite the fact that Andvari and Morta are old, bitter enemies, a dangerous attraction sparks between Gemma and Leo. Further complicating matters is Leo’s murderous family, especially Queen Maeven Morricone, the mastermind behind the infamous Seven Spire massacre. The closer Gemma gets to the stolen tearstone, the more deadly plots she uncovers. Everyone is trying to capture the crown, but only one queen can sit on the throne…
I have been a fan of Jennifer Estep since I first picked up Spider’s Bite way back in 2012. Since then I’ve read pretty much all of the Elemental Assassin books, including many of the short stories in between and a treasured autographed copy of Poison Promise. Yet, even though she’s written several other series, I haven’t strayed far from my favorite assassin. I’m pretty sure that’s about to change though because this first glimpse of Gemma and her world have definitely left me wanting more. 😉
Capture the Crown is the first book in the Gargoyle Queen series, but it’s set in the same world as the author’s Crown of Shards series. I’m speaking from experience when I say that you don’t have to read the previous series to enjoy Capture the Crown. Although the references to the Crown of Shards series have definitely piqued my interest.
Gemma wasn’t your average princess, at least not to those closest to her. She hid behind the “spoiled royal” facade well. Another secret that she’s kept well is how powerful she is, which should work to her advantage. The fact that she can’t really control that power is a frustration as well as a source of guilt. She’s never really recovered from the thought that if she had used it years before, she might have been able to save a lot of people that she cared about. She’s the only one that feels that she should carry that guilt though. She’s slowly coming to realize that the perspective of a very young girl may have been slightly skewed, especially when it comes to a certain young prince.
There were times during Capture the Crown that I wish readers could have gotten just a small glimpse of what was going on in Leo’s head. I also know that only getting Gemma’s POV made the story more intriguing and suspenseful. Still, there were times that I know that Leo was showing a side of himself that even Gemma didn’t pick up on. I really liked him, even when I was almost sure that I shouldn’t.
Beyond the danger and tense relationship between the two royals, what really drew me into Capture the Crown was the relationship between the characters. Their loyalty to each other was fierce and it went both ways. Gemma was just as dedicated to them as they were to her. And then there was Grimley. ❤ I’ve read a couple of stories that included gargoyles from other authors, but I’m pretty sure that this lovable creature is now one of my favorites.
Gemma and Leo’s story is far from over by the end of Capture the Crown. She’s still not sure exactly where his loyalty lies or exactly how she feels about him. Hopefully readers won’t have to wait long to find out what happens next. In the mean time, I might have to check out Kill the Queen to experience this world from the beginning. Stay tuned!
Blood might be thicker than water, but venom is stronger than just about anything …
It was supposed to be a nice, quiet, simple dinner with friends—but nothing is ever nice, quiet, or simple when you’re Gin Blanco, the Spider, notorious assassin and current queen of the Ashland underworld.
This time around, someone seems to be targeting Stuart Mosley, the president of First Trust bank. Lots of people have grudges against Mosley, but the more I investigate, the more Mosley’s problems seem to be connected to some of my own, especially when it comes to the Circle, the evil, shadowy group that is secretly responsible for much of the crime and corruption in Ashland.
But when another blast from my dark and deadly past as the Spider comes to light, I wonder if I’ll be able to survive this dangerous new enemy, who has a burning thirst for revenge that will only be satisfied with one thing: my death.
I can’t believe I missed this book when it was first released, but there is a silver lining to procrastination – or not paying attention. Now I don’t have to wait very long before Sharpest Sting because it is scheduled to be released in October. 😉
To be honest, I probably should done a quick re-read of Snared before I read Venom in the Veins. After all, it had been 2 years since I finished the last book in the Elemental Assassin series. The author threw in enough memories and recaps that it was easy to keep up though. My favorite memories though were of her and Fletcher, which is usually the case.
Gin has proven over and over again that she would do anything to protect her family and that circle seems to be growing. Almost as much as her list of enemies. There’s little down time in Venom in the Veins, there’s also a lot of ground covered and plenty of danger. It also seems that each answered question or solved mystery is followed closely by even more. Not the least of which was the unexpected ally that Gin gained, which made her trust him even less.
There was also an unexpected revelation at the end of Venom in the Veins that should prove to make things in Sharpest Sting even more interesting. Like I said, it’s a good thing I don’t have a long wait. It’s going to be hard enough to wait until October to see what happens next.
Irony 101—The Spider herself snared in someone else’s web…
Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city’s underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl.
My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I’m not holding out much hope that she’s still alive.
A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I’m used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy—one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim.
I can honestly say that I have never ‘met’ an Elemental Assassin book that I didn’t like and Snared was most definitely no exception. If you’ve read any of my other reviews in this series, you’re probably getting tired of hearing some of the same things over again. Trust me, it’s not because the books are all the same, not by a long shot. It’s because they all have the same elements that I love and that consistency – knowing that what’s always drawn me into Gin’s world is going to be there – keeps me coming back.
Things started heating up for Gin and company in Snared because she was getting close to identifying members of the Circle. She knew who a few of the key members were, which was helpful, but she really wanted to get to the top of the organization. When she’s asked to help find a mob boss’s missing sister, she has to change her priorities, but only for a little while.
I have to admit, I figured out who the bad guy was before Gin, but that didn’t lesson the mystery. There was a lot more going on behind the scenes and one character in particular that I really want to figure out. So does Gin…
As usual, one of my favorite aspects of the Elemental Assassin books is the sense of family. It seems like that family just keeps growing and new ‘members’ find their way into this tight knit group in some unexpected ways. There’s definitely more to come in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next because I have a feeling things are about to get even more interesting in Ashland. 😉
After the shocking revelations of the previous book, Bitter Bite, the world of Ashland’s become even more sinister, and Gin Blanco (aka Ashland’s most fearsome assassin, the Spider) no longer knows who—or what—she can count on. Only one thing is for certain: danger and new enemies await Gin in Unraveled, Book 15 in the New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series that RT Book Reviews calls “unbeatable entertainment!” What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?
As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.
So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.
Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight …
The more that Gin Blanco’s eclectic family experiences and grows, the more I fall in love with them. So yeah, we’re up to the 15th book in the Elemental Assassin series and it’s still going strong.
After everything that happened in Bitter Biteand Unwanted, I kinda agreed with Finn in thinking that they all needed a break. The only problem is that trouble seems to follow this crew where ever they go, so R&R is totally out of the question. Good thing that Gin never lets her guard down. I really love that about her. 😉
Aside from the danger – because when it comes to Gin and crew, danger is a given – there was a lot of ground covered in Unraveled. Secrets were revealed, more than a few revelations were uncovered and a couple of mysteries were left to discover.
As usual, with pretty much every book in this series, the family connection is the best part. From the beginning to the end, they count on each other, which is just one of the reasons why this series never gets old. It pretty much goes without saying that I can’t wait for Snared, the next book in the Elemental Assassin series. Oh, and it looks like there’s even a new novella to look forward too – Nice Guys Bite is coming around December 😉
The fallout from his disastrous “family reunion” in Bitter Bite has left Finn feeling hurt, angry, and depressed. He can barely stand to look at himself in the mirror, much less eat any of the delicious barbecue from Gin’s famed Pork Pit restaurant.
But when the funeral for a slain security guard at his bank turns into a showdown with some nasty underworld giants, Finn knows that he must act in order to protect an innocent family.
Finnegan Lane might be the most unwanted man in Ashland these days, but he’s determined to try to make amends for his past mistakes…
Oh Finn… As I mentioned more than once, the thing that I love most about the Elemental Assassin series is the sense of family. At the core of that family is Gin and Finn. That family was put to the test in Bitter Bite and because of that I spent a lot of that book being really upset with Finn. Unfair, I know, especially since by the end of Bitter Bite Finn was totally broken… which is where readers found him at the beginning of Unwanted.
Seeing Finn as low as he was in Unwanted was hard. He was without his characteristic wit, charm and self confidence and worse, he felt he deserved every dirty look and cold shoulder thrown his way. When he finally saw the chance to make things up to at least one of the people he hurt, he jumped on it.
All of Finn’s “family’ were there to support him and prove to him that they loved him no matter what. Some things you just have to do on your own and Finn was determined to prove to others and to himself that he wasn’t the man that they thought he was. As novella’s in a series go, Unwanted wasn’t just a side story, it was almost necessary. Finn had been through so much in Bitter Bite that he (and readers) deserved to gain some closure from the ordeal. Unwanted did just that and leaves readers ready and waiting for the next installment in the Elemental Assassin series, Unraveled.
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.
This was a hard one… The thing that I love most about the Elemental Assassin series is the family aspect. As makeshift as they appear to be, Gin’s family is stronger than most conventional families. Any time that their relationships are threatened in any way, it makes me nervous. Bitter Bite made me very, very nervous.
Readers found out at the end of Spider’s Trap that Finn’s mother was still alive. Bitter Bite opened pretty much right after Gin had made that discovery. Gin’s protective instincts flare initially because of warnings that Fletcher left her to find. Those feelings intensified the more she got to know and distrust the woman. I spent a lot of time being mad at Finn in this book, which really wasn’t fair, but it was hard to watch him push aside Gin’s feelings but the rest of his family as well. As much as he loved his family, he wanted to have his mother’s love so bad he was blinded. I wanted to shake him, but I wanted to hug him too because… well, because he was Finn and sooner or later he was going to be crushed. *sigh*
I think I loved Gin just a little more for her undying devotion to Finn even though he was being selfishly blind. She would be there to pick up the pieces. The rest of Finn’s family felt the same way, which gave me hope that things would turn out okay for all of them. No, Bitter Bite wasn’t an easy book to read. The emotional roller coaster was pretty much nonstop and my heart broke for Finn more than once. He had a lot of support though and in the end, that makeshift family that I’ve grown to love so much came through just a little bit stronger. ❤
Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance. One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be. My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death…
13 books in and my love of Gin and company hasn’t faded one bit. If anything, my commitment to this series has gotten even stronger.
Gin’s standing in the Ashland underworld has taken a strange twist. She’s now the reluctant ‘boss’ of the underworld, but that doesn’t mean that she’s gained more respect. The opposite’s probably true. There’s a twist to the turn of events in Spider’s Trap though. One that brings out her unique sense of honor among assassins.
Once again, the family aspect of the Elemental Assassin series drew me in. Like it or not, Gin’s makeshift family is growing and her goal is to keep everyone safe. The stakes grow even higher this time around and when one of those members is almost lost, someone has to pay. It’s no surprise that Gin has no problem collecting.
The end of Spider’s Trap isn’t an end at all. It’s actually a rather intriguing intro to the next installment, Bitter Bite. Given what Gin uncovers, things are about to get even more interesting in Ashland. I can’t wait!
There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan.
With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.
The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.
Well, that was intense. Of course none of the books in this series are a calm walk in the park, but Black Widow took things up a notch. I never thought that I would hate a character more than Mab Monroe, but her daughter turned out to be a whole new level of ‘witch.’
Instead of going for the obvious kill like all the other crime bosses in Ashland, M.M. Monroe decided to go the ‘legal’ route. Or as legal as things got in their fair city. She didn’t go about it slowly either. One by one, everyone that Gin loved and cared about was targeted. They never saw it coming. The one thing that Ms. Monroe didn’t take into consideration was the level of payback that Gin would send her way for messing with her family.
The battle got super personal and they were pretty much surrounded by danger from the beginning to the end. The tactics were clever but once Gin knew the game plan, she took her time and worked as smartly as her opponent. As usual, she didn’t do it alone though. Her friends and family were behind and beside her all the way, which is one of the many things I love about the Elemental Assassin series.
Gin seems to pick up more family as she goes, which is keeping things interesting. So are the twists and turns in Black Widow that could have changed everything and still might. Gin’s status in Ashland also took a new turn and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, Spider’s Trap. 13 books in and I’m not even close to being tired of Gin and company. 😉
creativedeeds 