Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin #12
400 p.
Published: 11/25/14
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: From publisher for review

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.

My thoughts:
Oh wow! I didn't think we would get the showdown we were waiting for so soon. I thought there might be a couple of books yet to go but I was so happy when we got it. I know that some of you aren't quite up to this book yet so I'll try to make it spoiler free.

Often in a series that runs this long and you get a big bad with impossible circumstances we often get regurgitated story lines. Not so here. The villain invents a new way to come at Gin and Gin responds in kind. It wasn't what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. In this book brains won over brawn but brawn still helped in the end. :) Fans of Owen will love this addition and although the romance is scant, what is there packs a punch.

I give this book 5 stars. It is a series that is going strong at #12 and I can't wait for #13. I suggest that those that haven't started with this series start at the beginning. You have 12 books to devour in a row! I recommend it from the beginning to get the full feeling of all the characters. I also recommend it to those that enjoy UF.