Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin #8)

I rarely write reviews/comments about books I read. I originally read this the first 6 books of this series when they came out but stopped for a while. I was disappointed in Donavan and kind of frustrated with Gin’s reactions to him.

But then she met Owen, who seemed to get her and who she was. BUT, for a cold assassin she wears her heart on her sleeve way too much, and when it comes to Owen, she comes across way too weak and immature.
When she ran across Donavan while on ‘vacation’ and didn’t tell Owen, he was justifiably upset

But seriously, Owen hides his previous relationship with both Selina and Kincaid, or the fact that Owen was once engaged, and Gin appears just shrugs that off and not confront him about it.. Then then all the drama, ending with his committing to try and help Salina or killing her himself, which of course he doesn’t do.
Then when Gin, while Owen is begging her not too, even after he knows how Salina tortured his baby sister and caused such a rift with his best friend, and of course attempting to kill his supposed soul mate numerous times.. He even begged her to give him one more chance to save her, which she did, and he still couldn’t forgive her.
And to let this drag on for so long, even after he believes that he saw her dead.
Then just shutting her out. Gin comes across like a broken hearted teenager or at least someone very immature and having a really weak self-image.
Then to go weeks and weeks without Owen talking to her, and then complaining that she didn’t tell him about her previous husbands and how they died.
I can’t believe that Eva, Phillip and so many others didn’t smack him up side the head.
It seems like he proved that the trust and understanding wasn’t really there, and Gin has more than enough reason to be angry and hurt. But she keeps burying it behind her broken heart.
You make them soul mates and then so easily destroy it, while they spend to little time talking and trying to work things out together.
You allow Gin to come across too weak in my opinion.

Apologizes for my ramblings,. I can forgive and ignore things like her carrying a silenced pistol and not using it, and other minor shortcomings that didn’t make sense, but I am very disappointed how this relationship has been dealt with, and where it seems to be going. It seems like Gin keeps grasping at straws while she is left dangling by a thread. This is not how someone who truly loves you should be treating her.

They both seem somewhat shallow and immature with their emotions, especially when Owen knows how much his sister was tortured and hurt by his first love.

I will keep reading, and it’s clear that things will get worse between them. I guess that’s one way to keep us coming back for more. We will see. She came to terms with Donavan after he hurt her so much, but is allowing him to torture her with guilt and shame and appearing to accept no responsibility for what happened.

After the events of Widows Web I thought that maybe wed jump into some relationship drama in Deadly Sting right away. But gratefully we didnt. Instead we jump into Gin in a dress shop saving the day with Fin and getting plenty bloody while doing it. Feelings shmeelings we dont need to talk about those.

*** I have plenty of little black numbers in my closet at home, any one of which would be just fine for this event.
Finn snorted. Sure, if you dont mind wearing something thats ripped, torn, and caked with dried blood. I couldnt argue with that. Funny how killing people inevitably led to ruined clothes. ***

Gin needs a dress to be Fins date to an art exhibit of all of Mabs works of art and eventually a reading of her will. That is where everything hits the fan and Gin is once again at the wrong place and the wrong time and has to save the day and most of the upper class of Ashland.

Think Die Hard but with a girl and in a museum instead. I liked the premise of this one and the enclosed space for the story. Gin is up against an entire crew and has to figure out what the real play is all about since it doesnt seem as simple as just a heist.

There is a little time to talk to Owen and this is pretty much how that goes.

*** Owen: I need more time.
Gin: I understand.
Owen: I dont know
Gin: I understand
Owen: I just dont know
Gin: I understand. ***

Uggg. I was hoping that the speed bump in their relationship would add some character depth but for the most part they really stagnated here.

Overall though I liked the villain crew they were a little smarted than some of the other villains weve faced and the ending for the true bad guy was pretty perfect actually and intelligently done.

It is pretty clear that Owen and Gin will eventually find their way back to each other but we still will have to wait a little while to find out how and when. But plot wise this was one of the stronger books of the series.

Gin is having a night off, she’s come to a fancy do at the local museum, showcasing her old nemesis mab’s treasures all her closest friends and family are out with her, anybody who is anybody is there, it’s the hottest ticket in town. She should be on top of the world, but due to the problems in her personal life she’s feeling a bit down, added to which assasin’s are still trying to collect the million dollar bounty on her head, so it’s good to be able to relax among friends. But nothing is ever that simple for Gin, after paying a visit to the ladies room she comes out to find the power down all the doors and windows locked and all the guests (including her friends and family) being held hostage in the main showroom by a gang who state their intention to steal all the treasure from the museum they promise the hostages will be safe if they just co-operate, but as Gin knows they have already killed that promise does not give her much hope, good job she never goes anywhere without her knives. Time for the killing to start. As always with this series this book is well potted and written with great character development and suspense, i read it in one sitting.

This book was much better than the last and kept at a constant fast pace until the last few chapters where it practically went at a snails pace.

Gin is back to being her bad-assed self with all the other characters practically only having cameo roles in this novel.

Fin is still being vain, the relationship between Bria and Gin is blooming and the relationship between Gin and Owen is still stagnant

There is not too much left unanswered in this novel, however there are a few loose ends that can tie into another book, like there should be in all good series.

Altogether i’m pleased that this book was so much better than its predecessors.

I have loved all the books in this series!

Rather than telling you what the story’s about (which you can read in the description and other reviews), I willtell you whyI like the whole series without exception; the lead character is a sassy woman with a great sense of humour, there are many engaging characters who again don’t take themselves too seriously even when the situations they are put into could go that way. The books are well written and effortlessly take you off into another world with storylines which cross the whole range of emotions but ultimately leave you feeling that good will win over evil 🙂

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