Holy moly!  This fourteenth book took this series in such a crazy turn.  Throughout the series, Gin has been hellbent on protecting her family and friends.  And as the series as gone along, she's created so many enemies that it's not surprising when her family becomes a target.  The enemies have become stronger and more cunning.

As the blurb tells the reader, in this installment, Finn's mother is back in town.  She was presumed dead when Finn was a baby, so he had no relationship with her and he grew up with no real mother figure.  So, when she shows up and Finn finds out who she is, he jumps that the chance to get to know is mother... and in doing so alienates his friends and family.  And all along, Gin has this gut feeling that something is wrong but just can't pin-point it.

One of the things I've enjoyed about this series is waiting to see powerful Gin's next adversary is and what insane situation they're going to get into.  In Bitter Bite, Deirdre (Finn's mother) is a powerful ice elemental with an unknown agenda.  Throughout most of the story, Gin is just trying t figure out what's going on with little success.  So there's a lot of reminiscing of her childhood after she had joined Finn's family and just emotion wrestling going on in this story.

The last half of the book is where the action really picks up.   There's the big confrontation between Gin and Deirdre, which was interesting as I believe this was her first encounter with such a strong ice elemental.  And just when I thought the story was wrapping up, I realized there was still 15% of the book to go.  And that's when I was thrown a huge curve ball.   It came completely out of left field and yet I was so drawn in and can't wait to see how this new development is explored in future books.  It was the breath of fresh air that I think this series needed.

This series is one of my favorites when I need a paranormal fix.  It's fourteen books in and still going strong.  This new twist in the series I think will keep things interesting and I can't wait to return to Ashland to see what happens next.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

It’s not easy being queen bee of an underworld abuzz with crooks and killers. Wielding my potent Ice and Stone elemental magic will only get me so far—my real secret is my tight-knit makeshift family, a motley crew of cops and criminals, dwarves and playboys. My foster brother Finnegan Lane is my right-hand man, but when his suddenly not-dead relative comes back into the picture, I’m the one on the outside looking in.
It’s funny how life works: one minute your best friend is rock-steady, and the next he’s doe-eyed and buying into this whole loving-relative routine to the point of ignoring you. I’d like to be happy for Finn, I really would. But all of my instincts are telling me that beneath the syrupy sweet demeanor and old-fashioned charm, this sudden interloper is planning something. The whole shtick leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This person might have avoided the grave once, but I’ll put anyone who hurts Finn in the ground—for good.

*3.5 stars*

For a series that is in its 14th installment, you would think that it would have run out of things to say. And, to some degree, that is true. It is hardly the most original storyline now but, like your favourite pair of shoes or sweater, there is a certain comfort to returning to these characters. It is like visiting family - some that you don't particularly like or have never taken to but you deal with anyway - and that is the biggest attraction for me at this point.

I don't read these books any more expecting to be blown away by the plot or the characters - I think that ship has sailed for me. But I do enjoy revisiting the series that has so far given me a lot of enjoyment and pleasure.

Recommend starting at the beginning (Book 1) and reading all the way through...


Paul
ARH

Finn and Gin are in for a surprise of a lifetime when they learn Finn's long-dead mother, Deidre, is actually very much alive. Finn is overjoyed when he learns his new client is Deidre. When she tells him she never wanted to leave him behind, but was forced to, Finn falls right into her lap. He just wants a chance to get to know the mother he never had.

Gin, however, knows Deidre is up to no good. Only because Finn asks it of her, is she allowing Deidre to get close to Finn. Gin is just waiting for Deidre to slip up and show her true colors. Unfortunately, her legendary patience is beginning to wear thin. When Gin finally does catch on, she is right in the thick of things, and Finn's life is also at stake. Still, Gin will fight like hell and do what needs must in order to survive and protect the ones she loves.

I am still just as engrossed in author Jennifer Estep's ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN series fourteen books in as I was from book one. No other author could write such a long-standing series and manage to keep readers hanging on to her every word like Ms. Estep. Gin's adventures keep getting better and better. There have been a lot of ups and downs throughout, but Gin is just as rock solid as ever in BITTER BITE. Gin's world has been rocked on more than one occasion, but this time it's Finn that is in for a huge shake-up. It's a good thing he has such a good sister who always has his back. BITTER BITE is a real page-turner. Expect to be up late reading it and prepare to be blown away by the awesomeness of it all!

Bitter Bite, book 14 in the Elemental Assassin series, sees dual magic wielding, underworld queen, and all around badass assassin Gin Blanco dealing with some good, old-fashioned family drama – of course, it’s slightly more menacing and potentially deadly family drama than most people have to deal with (understatement). At the end of book 13, Spider’s Trap, Gin got a lead on her foster brother Finn’s long-lost and thought-to-be-dead relative. In Bitter Bite, the not-quite-so-dead-as-reported relative is no longer just an idea anymore and more of a real-life, real pain in Gin’s side. Naturally, Finn feels different about the whole thing, putting the once tight-knit foster siblings at odds with one another.

I’ve only read the past three books in the series and I’ve never really given any serious attention to Finn before Bitter Bite. Sure he’s Gin’s foster brother, and Gin’s sister’s boyfriend, and he’s been Gin’s slightly deus ex machina savior out of many a hard situation – but he was never really a layered, nuanced character for me. Bitter Bite changed all that. We really get to see a vulnerable side to Finn beyond the handsome, polished, investment banker/talented sniper – he became more real. I’m going to admit, I was not his biggest fan for most of this book, but he was dealing with some stuff and, let’s be honest, nobody can mess with your head and emotions like family. There’s an e-novella set after this book, Unwanted, written from Finn’s perspective that shows him dealing with the extremely personal aftermath of Bitter Bite, and I completely recommend reading it if you want to get to know more of what’s going on in Finn’s head.

Beyond (and sometimes within) the unfolding family drama, Bitter Bite also has plenty of uppity bad guys, well-written and well-choreographed fight sequences, and strong women getting things done – all typical staples of this series and what make the Elemental Assassin books such entertaining reads.

I’ve fallen a little bit behind in the series (book 16, Snared, comes out April 25th 2017) and I started late (I jumped in on book 11, Poison Promise), but I can honestly say, from what I’ve read so far, I love this series and I’m itching to get my hands on more of it. The Elemental Assassin series is action packed, full of strong, badass women, and after 14 books, still going strong with page-turning plotlines. Estep keeps raising stakes and cranking out more books and I am so here for that, I just need to catch up.