ARC Review: Heart of Venom (Elemental Assassin 9) by @Jennifer_Estep

Heart of Venom

Series: Elemental Assassin, #9

By: Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Pocket Books

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Format: ebook

Source: edelweiss

Finally a Sophia and Jo-Jo book! This duo has always been involved in everything that has to do with Gin but it has always eluded me as a reader what their back-story is. Now we are introduced to some very sick villains. These guys, a brother-sister team, really do take the cake for evil. Harley has always had a thing for Sophia and is coming back to collect her now that the Tin Man is no longer protecting her. Little does he know that The Spider is now in charge of Sophia’s safety and she is not happy when her loved one is snatched. Harley’s sister Hazel is a piece of work and her jealousy is pretty apparent along with her obvious insanity.

There wasn’t much progression on who the mysterious M.M. Monroe is but I can tell we are getting close. I think this was more of a filler book and to give us more insight into the powerhouses of Sophia and Jo-Jo. We do get a glimpse into what might possible happen with Owen and Gin and I am ready for them to decide which way they are going to go. The roller coaster that Estep takes us on is always a thriller and sometimes I just don’t want it to end.

As is typical with a series there is a lot of recapping what happened in previous books but for me this is a much needed refresher considering the amount of books I have read in between this one and the last one to come out. For most it could be a lot or repetition but I don’t base my rating on recapping. The one flaw I have and have had this entire series is that sometimes Gin is just too hard on herself and twists everything into her fault. I would like to see a little growth in her character in this aspect. This is still an amazing series and I can’t wait to read the next installment which is a prequel novel titled The Spider due out in December.

PURCHASE HEART OF VENOM

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DISCLOSURE: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss at no charge and in no way influenced my review. 

Book Review + Giveaway: Spartan Frost + Midnight Frost by @Jennifer_Estep

Spartan Frost

Series: Mythos Academy, #4.5

By: Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

Format: e-ARC

Source: Netgalley

The much anticipated e-novella from Jennifer Estep has come! Logan’s POV is something fans of Estep’s Mythos Academy series have been patiently for. Although I wish that it wasn’t such a short insight into the tortured Spartan, most fans will be slightly satisfied.

I don’t want to give much away and it is hard to write a review on something that is about 46 pages long so in short Estep gives her readers a look into how much Logan is beating himself up about what he did when his body was controlled by Loki. The emotionally impact that Estep packs into this novella will have you wanting more and looking forward to the next book in this series, Midnight Frost. 

PURCHASE SPARTAN FROST

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Midnight Frost

Series: Mythos Academy, #5

By: Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Books

Publication Date:July 30, 2013

Format: ARC

Source: Publisher

Once again Jennifer Estep floors me how she keeps her characters and settings fresh and exciting. She blends our beloved characters with new faces without overloading the reader. There is enough familiar elements that as a fan of the Mythos Academy series, I didn’t feel that she was leaving the comforts of home behind.

In Estep’s fifth installment, Gwen avoids being poisoned by a Reaper but unfortunately someone near to her is caught in the botched assassination attempt. Gwen must now travel to the ends of the earth to locate the plant that is the cure. The rest of the gang immediately snaps to attention knowing they are heading into a Reaper trap. With Logan’s absence, Gwen is left with a big hole in her heart. As she sets out on her mission she wonders if she will ever see him again. Once the group reaches the sister Academy, Gwen meets someone that she didn’t know existed and finds out more about her parents and her relatives, some things Gwen wishes she didn’t know.

I don’t want to give away much more then that but I will say that this series is heading in the right direction. I like how we aren’t pigeon holed into one setting or just one group of people and yet the familiar characters continue to grow. If you haven’t tried this series yet, now is the time to start!

 

PURCHASE MIDNIGHT FROST

Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble  /  Book Depository  /  Kensington

DISCLOSURE: I received these books from the publisher at no charge and in no way influenced my review.

GIVEAWAY

Kensington was gracious enough to offer a copy of Touch of Frost, the first book in this great series to one of my lucky readers! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Contest ends September 4th and open to U.S. and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday: Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The hanging of the man known in death as Will Scarlet but in life as Edward Carter required little fanfare and less time.

~pg. 333 Lady of the Forest by Jennifer Roberson