Review: Haints and Hobwebs (Elemental Assassin #4.7) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Haints and Hobwebs

Series: Elemental Assassin #4.7

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4)

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)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: November 27th 2018

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Anthology borrowed from library, novella preordered

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Synopsis: Even the Spider can’t escape a ghost’s web...

I’m being haunted.

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to being haunted by all the bad things I’ve done over the years. I suppose it was only a matter of time before an actual ghost came back to haunt me. But for once, I’m not the bad guy, and I wasn’t the person who sent this ghost—this haint—into the afterlife.

But this haint definitely wants something from me, and I can’t help but think that it’s revenge on the person responsible for her untimely demise.

Good thing revenge is my specialty, whether it’s among the living or the dead . . .

Note: Haints and Hobwebs is an 11,000-word story that takes place after the events of Tangled Threads, book 4 in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Haints and Hobwebs first appeared in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance in 2012.

My rating: ★★★★★
Ghosts! We get ghosts in this Elemental Assassin novella, and it was awesome! This is actually the first time we see them in this world.

The first time I saw the haint was in the cemetery.
Shocking, I know, a ghost hanging out in a graveyard, but the pale, wispy figure still caught my eye, if only for the fact it was the first one I’d ever seen.
You’d think that I would have been visited by more haints in my time, given the fact that I was a semi-retired assassin–and I’d helped a lot of people move on from this life to the next with a slice or two of my silverstone knives.

Review: Lucky Day (I Hunt Killers #0.2) by Barry Lyga

Title: Lucky Day

Series: I Hunt Killers #0.2

Novellas in this series: Down Time (#0.1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Publication date: April 2014

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis:

This is the story of the small town sheriff who captured one of the world's most ruthless and cunning murderers.

It all started with Dead Girl #1 and Dead Girl #2, the first killings in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod in decades. Two murders: just a coincidence, or something more sinister? One thing's for sure -- it was definitely inconvenient in a year when Sheriff G. William Tanner, a mourning widower, had to run for reelection.

With a trail gone cold, it's only luck that links the murders to the most notorious serial killer in memory. And in a town like Lobo's Nod, the killer must be someone Tanner already knows...

My rating: ★★★★☆

This is the story of the small town sheriff who captured one of the world's most ruthless and cunning murderers.

It was very interesting seeing how Billy Dent was finally captured after so many murders. There was a certain detail that propelled things forward and the sheriff completely missed it! I kept asking myself how he didn’t see that in the first place, but of course, I gotta cut him some slack since we knew what we were looking for.

Review: Down Time (I Hunt Killers #0.1) by Barry Lyga

Title: Down Time

Series: I Hunt Killers #0.1

Author: Barry Lyga

Publication date: August 2018

Published by: Hachette

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis:

Billy Dent is the world's most notorious serial killer, but even killers need to go on vacation sometimes. When a mysterious death occurs in the hotel where Billy is staying, his "job" seems to call. Will his vacation truly be down time for him after all?

In this prequel novella to the I Hunt Killers trilogy, bestselling author Barry Lyga crafts a creepy, intricately plotted mystery.

My rating: ★★★★★
This was my first introduction to the world of I Hunt Killers and I absolutely loved it! It was SO good! So our serial killer Billy Dent goes off on vacation when suddenly he's got a murder on his hands. Funnily enough, it was one he didn't commit.

There was only one way to solve the problem, Billy realized. Without intending to, he chuckled at the very thought. He was going to have to solve this murder.

Review: Halloween Frost (Mythos Academy #1.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Halloween Frost

Series: Mythos Academy #1.5

Previous book in this series: Touch of Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: October 2016

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Purchased ebook

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Synopsis:

It’s Halloween at Mythos Academy, and Gwen Frost and her friends are ready to have a little fun. But when a mythological monster shows up, the night turns out to be more trick than treat.

Halloween Frost takes place in between the events of Touch of Frost, book #1, and Kiss of Frost, book #2, in the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. The short story is about 6,500 words.

My rating: ★★★★★
It’s been so long since I was last in the Mythos Academy world, and oh man did I miss it! I just love this world to pieces! And this short story takes place during Halloween! Double win!

Review: Kiss of Venom (Elemental Assassin #8.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Kiss of Venom

Series: Elemental Assassin #8.5

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)

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)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: July 2013

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new e-novella—from the hero’s point of view! Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back...if her enemies don’t get her first.

When you have a history of dating an assassin, a night out on the town can turn deadly—fast. Owen Grayson is still wracked with guilt over the end of his love affair with Gin Blanco, and there aren’t enough gin and tonics in all of Ashland to ease his heartache. But when Gin happens to show up at the same nightclub, he isn’t the only one hoping to get her alone. Some shadowy figures will do anything to take down the Spider, Gin’s assassin alter ego, and Owen will do anything to protect her. This could be the way to win her back, or at least give her a night off from fighting for her life—if Owen can survive...

My rating: ★★★★★
This short story is told in Owen’s POV and it was amazing! Owen and Phillip go to hang out at Northern Aggression—just a guys night out of fun. I was so glad to see that they’re friends again. It was just nice to see them together and working on rebuilding their friendship. But then Gin show’s up and Owen starts reminiscing about things that happened with Salina. He so obviously misses Gin, but they still have not worked through their issues entirely. And I’m over here like, “Just get back together with her already!” Lol. I really do love them together and it’s very frustrating seeing how much they’re both hurting.

Review - Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (Elemental Assassin #8.1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks

Series: Elemental Assassin #8.1

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)

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)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: June 2013

Published by: Pocket Star

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

Come one! Come all! Witness Gin Blanco—aka the Elemental Assassin, aka the Spider—go toe to toe against the Esmerelda the Amazing's Wheel of Death and some dangerously creepy clowns! Only at The Carnival of Wondrous Wonders!

A free story from the forthcoming Carniepunk urban fantasy anthology starring bestselling authors Rachel Caine, Jennifer Estep, Kevin Hearne, Seanan McGuire, and Rob Thurman, and also includes Delilah S. Dawson, Kelly Gay, Mark Henry, Hillary Jacques, Jackie Kessler, Kelly Meding, Allison Pang, Nicole D. Peeler, and Jaye Wells. Samples of all fourteen tales are included to tantalize and to tease. Come to the Carniepunk midway and explore the creepy, mysterious, magical world of traveling carnivals today!

My rating: ★★★★☆
Gin is helping her baby sister Bria out on a case of a missing girl. This leads them to a traveling carnival, one that is quite strange and filled with even stranger people. And this missing girl might not be the only one who’s gone missing around this particular carnival. Gin's not a fan of this carnival, for more than one reason...

Review: A Longtime (and at one point Illegal) Crush by Janette Rallison

Title: A Longtime (and at one point Illegal) Crush

Author: Janette Rallison

Publication date: February 2013

Published by: Janette Rallison

Source: Own ebook

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Synopsis:

From the day Elsie’s big brother brought his friend Kye McBride over to their house, Elsie adored him. When she was eight she secretly blew kisses to him. When she was twelve she sat on the stairs, unnoticed, and watched him escort another girl to prom. When she was a senior in high school, she walked into math class and found out he was her new math teacher.

With that much emotion fueling her, things were bound to go wrong. And they did. Elsie not only spent the last two weeks of school avoiding him, she turned avoiding-Kye-at-all-costs into her life-long philosophy.

Now three years have passed and Elsie has come home for her brother’s wedding. She’s got to face Kye-–hopefully without getting crushed again.

My rating: ★★★★★
A Longtime (and at one point Illegal) Crush was a short, sweet read. Plus, it was super cute and funny, too! I adored it!

Review: Spider’s Nemesis (Elemental Assassin #4.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider’s Nemesis

Series: Elemental Assassin #4.5

Previous 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)

Books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story spans a period of many years, beginning before Gin was born and ending during the events of Tangled Threads. It is told from the point of view of Mab Monroe and shows how the Fire elemental grew up, including her first meeting with Eira Snow, Gin’s mother.

My rating: ★★★★★
This short story is told in Mab’s POV, which was amazing! The short story actually spans several years, even before Gin was born. One of the earliest scenes we see was when Mab was 7 years old and on her first (and I’m guessing only) playdate with Eira Snow, Gin’s mother. I honestly can’t believe this rivalry started because Mab was a spoiled, jealous brat.

Review: Tangled Schemes (Elemental Assassin #3.7) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Tangled Schemes

Series: Elemental Assassin #3.7

Previous 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)

Books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story spans a period of time starting from the last chapter of Spider’s Bite and ending right before the beginning of Tangled Threads. It’s told from Detective Bria Coolidge’s point of view and shows her search for her long-lost sister Genevieve Snow. What Bria doesn’t know is what she’s going to do about the fact that Genevieve also happens to be the assassin the Spider.

My rating: ★★★★★
Tangled Schemes is told in Bria’s POV. Bria is Gin’s baby sister, if you don’t remember. This short story doesn't actually take place between any two books, like the other short stories tend to. This one spans from book 1 (Spider’s Bite) all the way up to just before that start of book 4 (Tangled Threads), and it shows Bria’s search for her sister Genevieve who she actually thought was dead, until recently. Little does Bria know that she is closer to her sister than she can imagine. But Bria does learn one astonishing thing about her big sister...

Review: Tangled Dreams (Elemental Assassin #3.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Tangled Dreams

Series: Elemental Assassin #3.5

Previous 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)

Books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place in between the events of Venom and Tan­gled Threads. It’s told from the points of view of Jo-Jo Dev­er­aux and her sis­ter, Sophia Dev­er­aux. When a car­jacker fol­lows an injured Gin back to Jo-Jo’s beauty salon, Jo-Jo and Sophia join forced to elim­i­nate the threat.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Tangled Dreams is told in the POV of Jo-Jo and Sophia, and it takes place between books 3 (Venom) and 4 (Tangled Threads).

Review: Wasted (Elemental Assassin #2.7) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Wasted

Series: Elemental Assassin #2.7

Previous short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5)

Books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place in between the events of Web of Lies and Venom. One day, a beautiful woman walks into the bank where Finn works, and trouble soon follows.

My rating: ★★★★☆
When a beautiful woman walks into the bank that Finn works at, you know he won’t be able to resist her. But this woman might be more trouble than Finn could possible expect.

This short story takes place between book 2, Web of Lies, and book 3, Venom, and is told in Finn’s POV! I love Finn! I totally forgot how brilliant and badass he was! The man can fight and and kick some serious ass! Of course, then I remembered that his dad is an assassin, so... duh. Lol. But seriously, he surprised me in this.

Review: Web of Death (Elemental Assassin #1.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Web of Death

Series: Elemental Assassin #1.5

Previous short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5)

Books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place after the events of Spider’s Bite but before the beginning of Web of Lies. In "Web of Death," Gin Blanco’s retirement is interrupted by some unwanted guests.

My rating: ★★★★★
Web of Death takes place between book 1 (Spider’s Bite) and book 2 (Web of Lies) and is told in Gin’s POV.

Gin is now officially retired as an assassin and is moving into her new place when all of a sudden she is interrupted by a scream coming from the surrounding forest. To check it out, or not to check it out...

Review: Spider's Bargain (Elemental Assassin #0.5) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Spider's Bargain

Series: Elemental Assassin #0.5

Previous short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2)

First book in this series: Spider's Bite

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place before the events of Spider’s Bite, the first book in the Elemental Assassin series. In "Spider’s Bargain," Gin Blanco takes on a corrupt cop, but only one of them will be left standing in the end.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Spider’s Bargain takes place right before book one, Spider’s Bite and it is told in Gin’s POV. This assignment has Gin going after a corrupt cop who doesn’t know how to take ‘no’ for a goddamn answer. Not only is he abusing his power, but the things he has done—

Review: Ball Gowns and Blood Stains by Dorothy Dreyer

Title: Ball Gowns and Blood Stains

Author: Dorothy Dreyer

Publication date: August 2017

Published by: Dorothy Dreyer

Source: Freebie

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Synopsis:

It isn’t easy being Lucifer’s daughter, especially when you’ve got a twin brother who’s constantly stealing your thunder. Building an army for their father, Jessie and Jordan move to a new school to collect the damned. Jessie knew her brother would do whatever he could to usurp her efforts, but what she didn’t count on was running into Eli. Jessie’s had her share of human boys and usually tossed them aside when her job was done, but something about Eli haunts her. Something about him makes her want to be good.

When her father demands to have Eli’s soul—an act that Jordan would be more than happy to execute—Jessie must decide between killing Eli and saving him. But no matter what she decides, she’s damned either way.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Ball Gowns and Blood Stains was a nice and short read. I absolutely loved the premise of twin kids of Lucifer killing and collecting souls to build their armies to run their own circles of hell. Just—so much yes! But then Jessie meets the cute boy from school, Eli, and things change for her. She is so confused by the world Eli has opened up to her vs. the world she was lived in and grown up in her whole life.

Review: Because We Told Her To by Sal Conte

Title: Because We Told Her To

Author: Sal Conte (pen name of E. Van Lowe)

Publication date: April 2015

Published by: EViL E Books

Source: Gift from author for signing up to newsletter

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Synopsis:

*This is a 4000 word short story*

It was supposed to be a simple babysitting job, a way for teenage runaway, Kim, to get off the mean streets of Hollywood three nights a week. Then, Amaryllis and Hyacinth said "Let's play Twitter," and things got murderously strange.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
It all started with a babysitting job for Kim. She thought this was going to be a great job, and it was a plus that the girls were so damn cute! Well, it was initially great, because then the girls wanted to play this Twitter game that eventually ended in murder. Supernatural powers and creepy kids—there isn’t much Kim can do, except do exactly as the girls say, because otherwise...

Review: Web of Deceit (Elemental Assassin #0.2) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Web of Deceit

Series: Elemental Assassin #0.2

Previous short story in this series: Poison (#0.1)

First book in this series: Spider's Bite

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager. It’s told from the point of view of Fletcher Lane, Gin’s assas­sin men­tor, and focuses on Gin’s first solo job as the assas­sin the Spi­der.

My rating: ★★★★☆
This short story is told in Fletcher’s POV, Finn’s dad and Gin’s mentor.

Eventually, every assassin needed an apprentice, a fresh face and a clean set of hands to take over and do what needed to be done—and Gin Blanco was mine.

Review: Poison (Elemental Assassin #0.1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Poison

Series: Elemental Assassin #0.1

First book in this series: Spider's Bite

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publication date: 2011

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Free on author's site

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Synopsis:

This short story takes place when Gin is a teenager and is told from the point of view of Finnegan Lane, Gin’s foster brother.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Finn’s POV, yay! So Finn is Gin’s foster brother, I guess you could say. She grew up with him after Fletcher, Finn’s dad, took her in when her own family was murdered. In this short story Finn finds himself in a bit of trouble, but don’t worry, Gin to the rescue!

Review: Come to the Cemetery (Young Adult Horror #1) + The Haunting of Hex House (Young Adult Horror #3) by Jackson Dean Chase

Title: Come to the Cemetery

Series: Young Adult Horror #1

Author: Jackson Dean Chase

Publication date: February 2015

Published by: Jackson Dean Chase

Source: Own Ebook

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Synopsis:

A weird tale of ghostly love and revenge!

All of sixteen-year-old Cara Jones's friends are dead. Their bodies were found lying atop the same grave in Duskhaven Cemetery. The coroner's report lists the girls' cause of death as "massive cerebral hemorrhage," but Cara doesn't believe it. She knows something strange and terrible is happening.

When Cara hears a voice in her head commanding her to "Come to the cemetery," she knows time is running out. With no one else to turn to, Cara asks her secret crush, Jake Rogers, for help. As they begin to put together clues, the mysterious voice gets louder and it feels like she's losing her mind...

Can Jake and Cara unravel the ancient secret before she joins her friends in death?

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Cara’s friends are all dead. They died one by one, in the same way and in the same place—the cemetery. Cara fears she’s next, so she goes to the cemetery to decipher this mystery before she also turns up dead. All with the help of her crush, Jake, of course.

Review: Demigods & Magicians (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3) by Rick Riordan

Title: Demigods & Magicians

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1-3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Novellas in this book: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2) | The Crown of Ptolemy (#3)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: April 2016

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own hardcover

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Synopsis:

Magic, monsters, and mayhem abound when Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase meet Carter and Sadie Kane for the first time. Weird creatures are appearing in unexpected places, and the demigods and magicians have to team up to take them down. As they battle with Celestial Bronze and glowing hieroglyphs, the four heroes find that they have a lot in common--and more power than they ever thought possible. But will their combined forces be enough to foil an ancient enemy who is mixing Greek and Egyptian incantations for an evil purpose? Rick Riordan wields his usual storytelling magic in this adrenaline-fueled adventure.

My rating: ★★★★★

First of all, yes, I do own each individual e-book plus this physical copy of the book that bundles together all three stories :)

Review: The Crown of Ptolemy (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3) by Rick Riordan

Title: The Crown of Ptolemy

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #3 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Previous novellas in this series: The Son of Sobek (#1) | The Staff of Serapis (#2)

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

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Synopsis:

In their first encounter, demigod Percy Jackson and magician Carter Kane had to battle a giant crocodile on Long Island. A month later, Annabeth Chase ran into Carter's sister, Sadie, on the A train to Rockaway, where the pair fought a god named Serapis. Now trouble is brewing again, this time on Governor's Island. An ancient Egyptian magician named Setne has come back from the dead and is experimenting with Egyptian and Greek magic, trying to become a god himself. He's so powerful and tricky that all four-Percy, Annabeth, Carter, and Sadie-have to team up against him. But their usual weapons and spells aren't going to cut it this time. Will the heroes be taken down by a wannabe god who looks like Elvis, or will they rise to the challenge?

Told from Percy's point of view, this third demigod-magician crossover story has all of the spunk and action that Rick Riordan fans crave.

My rating: ★★★★★
This whole crossover was so epic that it felt like it could’ve been a whole series on it’s own, it was certainly complex enough. But at the same time, it was SO perfect just as short stories. It makes no sense, I know, but it was just great!