Poison Promise (Elemental Assassin #11)

4.5 rounded up to 5

Poison Promise is book number 11 in the Elemental Assassin series, and I had concerns before reading it. Some authors cannot sustain a series into the double figures, there are some series that should have stopped around book 10. Luckily, Estep has not fallen into the trap of continuing with a series long after it should have been put to bed (or put to sleep). Poison Promise is more of the familiar, but it does a good job of setting up a new story arc and introduces us to some new characters, who I look forward to meeting again.

(Possible spoilers) Gin is tired with being the Spider, constantly looking over her shoulder and never being able to relax. Her job as an assassin is also causing problems for her relationship with her sister Bria, especially with Bria out to get Benson, a local drug lord. Bria doesn’t understand why Gin hesitates to commit one more murder (after all, the body count is creeping towards triple figures in this series by now). Bira is a little annoying, but you can certainly see where she is coming from. It is interesting to see Gin evaluating her life after her secret identity has been exposed.

Benson has introduced a new drug to the streets and it is causing problems for people close to Gin and Bria (as well as the sisters themselves). Both Gin and Bria are out to stop Benson and the Burn, cue drama, tension and Gin’s usual snarky personality. However, in Poison Promise we see more of Gin’s vulnerability and see her in a different light.

We get to see all of the support characters and things seem stable in Gin and Owen’s relationship, which was a pleasant change. I enjoyed spending time with Finn, Jojo, Sophia, Xavier, Roslyn and the rest and Estep let us see more of the close relationships that Gin has with each of these characters.

Estep has introduced a new story arc and I felt that this book was almost a filler before the next book comes out. However, it certainly had enough action, drama, humour to make it an enjoyable read. You certainly know what to expect with the Elemental Assassin series, and it is still going strong.

***Some of us dont appreciate such salty language. My smile sharpened. Sorry, maam, I drawled. But I can assure you that cursing is going to be the least of my sins today.***

Well at least we are back on track again after that entire book that was just one long flashback. Gin is now up against an emotion draining, drug dealing, mad scientist vampire so we are back on solid ground.

Its been a busy year in Gins life. Shes killed a few bad guys, got her heart broken by one dude and fell in love with another. She discovered a deeper well to her magic and her skills and picked up a few friends along the way. She has also come out of the closet so to speak and now absolutely everyone knows she is the infamous assassin the Spider.

Well it is another day so it is time to go up against yet another bad guy. Benson isnt just another Vampire drug dealer, he likes to play mad scientist and his new drug Burn that is out on the market seems to target people with Elemental magic and give them an even bigger high. He reminds me a little of a bond villain and can be a bit OTT at time but all in all hes a pretty good villain.

Bria on the other hand shows just how like Gin she can be in her single minded craziness and maybe goes a little overboard but she is a woman on a mission to bring Benson and his drug empire down. Finn as ever never lets anything get to him. Not even the new wedge between his girlfriend and almost sister. He at least was the comic relief that this book needed.

***Aw, man, Finn said, coming up to stand beside me, a black duffel bag dangling from his hand. I didnt even get to shoot anybody. Well, look on the bright side, I drawled. Your clothes didnt get messed up. Neither did your hair. Finn perked up at my reasoning.***

But the most interesting part of the book actually came in the last few chapters as it is revealed who Mabs long lost relative is and what theyve come to Ashland for.

All and all a decent recovery to what was for me a horrible last book. Im really hoping that Gin and MMM have an interesting battle ahead since she seems like she might be more of a handful than even Mab was.

Poison Promise brings us back to Gin Blanco and her current escapade as The Spider.

Gin has been trying to keep a low profile at the Pork Pit since her identity as The Spider was revealed, but the underworld of Ashland isnt making that easy. They keep sending assassins and she keeps disposing of them.

Now another enemy distributing a new drug and Gins sister Bria and one of the Pork Pits employees are deeply involved. Gin intervenes, as she takes care of her own.

As always, Jennifer Estep delivers a fast-paced, fun book with sharp dialog and snarky humor. Her descriptions of the food Gin serves never cease to make my mouth water and wish there were a real Pork Pit to dine at. 🙂

I love the relationships she has with her circle of friends. Finn is a favorite character, with his snazzy clothes and cars, and equally snazzy sniper skills. I also love Owens character and how accepting and supportive he is of Gin. I hope to see more of him in future books.

Gin is badass and sassy as ever and I enjoyed every page. The Elemental Assassin series is one that I definitely buy each book when its published, because I know it will be as entertaining and fun as the previous ones.

I tried really hard to enjoy this book as I really liked the first ones in the series, but it’s all getting a bit repetitive.

Gin goes to work, has to kill some would be attackers in the alley at the back of the shop, someone threatens her family/friends, she gets in a fight, gets hurt, Jo Jo heals her, she makes a nice meal from scratch, she has a few flashbacks to her times living on the streets, she goes back and against terrible odds still kicks the bad guys butt and saves the day.

In fact it’s so repetitive that even the new characters added at the end….are quite literally a rehash of some of her original enemies. I just found I really stopped caring about any of the characters, the show down fight was the best part of the book, but not enough to save it and I’m really put off by her new/but really the same old nemesis, so I’m not going to be continuing on with this series.

Gin is looking for who created a pill full of elemental magic and she gets caught by benson whos supplying them. will gin survive another hellraising adventure read to find out.

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