Review: Last Strand (Elemental Assassin #19) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Last Strand

Series: Elemental Assassin #19

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11) | Black Widow (#12) | Spider's Trap (#13) | Bitter Bite (#14) | Unraveled (#15) | Snared (#16) | Venom in the Veins (#17)
| Sharpest Sting (#18)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5) | Unwanted (#14.5) | Nice Guys Bite (#15.5) | Winter's Web (#17.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 16, 2021

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: eARC from author

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Synopsis: Every bloody thread has been leading to this...

I’ve battled a lot of bad guys in my time, both as Gin Blanco and as the notorious assassin the Spider. But I’ve never faced off against anyone quite as powerful and deadly as the dastardly leader of the Circle secret society.

Just when I finally have a lead on how I can defeat the evil group once and for all, new information comes to light that throws me for a loop. Suddenly, everyone and everything I love is in imminent peril of being destroyed, and I’m racing against the clock to figure out a way to save my friends.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the danger has never been greater. Somehow, I need to weave one last strand in my web of death—and kill my enemies before they kill me...

My rating: ★★★★★

This is it. The final showdown between Gin and her dear old Uncle Mason, the leader of the Circle, and the cause of most of the crime in Ashland. And just the cause of all the terrible things that have happened in Gin's personal life.  I cannot tell you how excited I was to read this book! And it was incredible! Well worth the wait! It had actually been about a year or so since I last read an Elemental Assassin book, so I was really starting to miss the characters. And starting off the book with some banter between the characters... so good. It was like coming home 😌 That’s one of the things I love about this series: the characters.

I’ve always enjoyed the flashbacks in this series because it’s the only bit of Fletcher we get ever since he died way back in the first book. They’re always about old assassin cases Gin went on with Fletcher and they always somehow relate to the current case/problem Gin is dealing with. But these flashbacks in particular I found to be very emotional, and I don’t know if it was just because going into the book I knew this was the last book in this arc of Gin’s story. But the point is that I loved them! Gin and Fletcher had this very sweet conversation, and just Fletcher being proud of Gin... it was the sweetest thing! 🥰

“That unshakable belief you have in yourself is the best, deepest, most reliable strength you can ever have, more so than any Ice or Stone magic or even the sharpest knife.”

Another relationship I really love is the one between Gin and her self-appointed assistant Silvio. It is the best! He is always mothering her and it’s hilarious! After everything he went through with his last employer, I’m so glad he found Gin and the rest of her found family. They are just the best! Something goes sideways in this book and every single one of Gin’s friends is right there to help, no questions asked, and it just warmed my heart to see that. Especially considering that some of these characters were considered to be more enemy than friend once upon a time. Like Lorelai, for example! Or Tucker, who isn’t so terrible anymore? Who would’ve thought? Lol. It’s so interesting to see all this incredible character development though.

But going back to Silvio, don’t even get me started on Silvio and Liam because 😍 I love it! Liam was actually working undercover as security for Mason, and omg I was so worried this whole time that he was going to be found out! Mason is absolutely ruthless, so if Liam got caught, he would be in serious trouble! So yeah, there was that anxiety there, especially because he and Silvio were just starting to be a thing and I just really like him.

Some other characters I love: Finn and his sassiness, of course. I live for his quips and his banter with Gin—it’s the best! I also love Bria, Gin’s baby sister. This whole thing with the Circle and Mason was very personal for both of them because their dear old uncle just made their life hell. But I’m happy to see that their relationship is stronger than ever, even after everything they went through. That sweet moment they had at the end there was very touching 🖤

And Gin I obviously love too. I love how smart she is, especially when it comes to this situation. Gin knows that her uncle is crazy powerful when it comes to his Stone magic, and that she would probably not be able to beat him with her raw magic alone. So she fought smarter, and it was amazing!

I can’t help it, I just have to spoil some things cause the end was just SO good! Mason is such a smug prick that he totally wrote off Gin there at the end. He totally shouldn’t have done that. He thought he had his money back, but NOPE! It was the Gin coins this whole time! The same coins that a petty Emery swept off the table. The girl screwed herself and it was great! Lol. Oh and then at the end just before the big fight when Gin let all the important people of Ashland know that Mason was in fact broke and so on and so forth... The bewildered look on Mason's face in that moment as everyone left the party gave me life! It was incredible! AND THEN Gin used Mason’s own power against him! 😂 He had put some of his Stone magic in this sapphire paperweight type thing, and she blew that up in his face and it basically helped her turn the fight in her favor. Then he laid there dying and asked Gin for help. 😌 I loved every second of it. Especially because Mason got exactly what he deserved.

The ending was just so satisfying! It wrapped up this arc with the Circle and Mason really nicely. The fight was action-packed, like always, and Gin had some very interesting moves up her sleeve. It was great! This is one of my favorite series of all time, so I have nothing but good things to say about it! I loved the story with the Circle, I adore the characters, the action is always great, and the magic system is fantastic! This is the last book in the series for a little while, which makes me sad, but I’m looking forward to more from this series, no matter how long I have to wait for it 🖤

My name is Gin, and I kill people.
Always and forever.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊