"You need a vacation."
The opening line of, ’By a Thread’, the next installment of Jennifer Estep's thrilling 'Elemental Assassin' Urban Fantasy series hints that perhaps life may be getting a little crazy for Gin Blanco. Gin is a semi-retired assassin known as the 'Spider', a woman that prefers to spend most of her time 'blending in', rather than being the center of attention. Unfortunately, given the sequence of recent events of Gin's somewhat chaotic life, life is anything but dull. People are coming from near and far to challenge and attempt to take down the Spider, the one famous for taking down deadly Fire Elemental, Mab Monroe. And while living a life of danger certainly isn't anything new for Gin, she's faced with a dose of the truth when she steps out to drop the day's trash in the dumpster and finds another two men waiting to 'challenge' her, simple due to her reputation as the Spider and the knowledge that she took Mab Monroe down. After quickly and easily disabling the men, Gin is forced to admit that her foster brother, Finn is right for once.. it is looking like she does need a vacation and maybe a little down time away from the city. Laying low will be good for her... Finn did mention including her sister Bria and her lover, Owen also. After all, a vacation means relaxing right?
The next thing we know, Gin and her sister, Bria are cruising down the road in a convertible towards, Blue Marsh... a popular tourist destination, but also the town where Bria was raised. Gin is looking forward to spending a few days with her sister, to get to know her without the elements of threat and danger surrounding her... and it's here you see some of Gin's exterior wall's come down to get a glimpse of a more 'vulnerable' side of her. (In the previous books of the series, Gin is always so busy of taking care of everyone else, the reader doesn't really get a chance to see the fear or worry inside our heroine, or the 'hard as nails' face she presents to the word.) This 'forced' vacation means a lot to Gin, but more in terms to growing and nurturing her relationship to Bria and hoping to build a more solid foundation for them. And while Bria seems a bit 'clueless' to Gin's internal struggle, her own excitement about the trip is fundamental as well. Blue Marsh is 'home', and returning for a visit means that she can catch up with her best friend, Callie...someone she has talked about non-stop. The striking point of this situation is that Gin would do absolutely anything to make her sister, Bria, happy and if that means letting Bria spend her entire vacation with Callie. However, I don't think either Gin or Bria are anticipating exactly how 'complicated' their vacation is going to become when they arrive in Blue Marsh.
One of my favorite traits of Gin is the persona she presents to the world. She has the ability to engage the most evil villains on the face of the planet and dish out her own brand of justice. She's murdered to save a child's life and to protect her sister, and she'd do it again with no questions asked. She doesn't regret her actions and she's never apologized for who she is or what she has done in her past, until Bria returned to her life and learned her real identity. 'By a Thread' is a pivotal turning point in the relationship between Bria and Gin, and as the plot thickens, Bria is forced to realized that maybe the world isn't as 'right and wrong' as she believes and Gin has to come to terms with the fact that she may never have the bond with her sister that she desires.
Despite the iron will that Gin has, there's no question that she would do anything to protect those that she loves from getting hurt... including her sister's best friend, Callie. Callie has been threatened and is danger from a real estate mongul, that just also happens to be a very old, dangerous vampire. After two of his 'lackeys' pay her restaurant a visit, for a 'reminder', the so-called 'vacation' is over. When Gin and Bria learn just how serious the situation is, Gin doesn't hesitate to step in and offer help, simply because Callie is Bria's best friend. While Callie is a bit evasive, her fiancé arrives in a panic and is determined that the justice system will take care of the problem. If Gin was feeling vulnerable before, the next development probably would have been like a punch in the gut... Callie's fiancé is none other than, Donovan Caine, Gin's former lover... the one man that wanted her, but couldn't accept her as she was, judged her, then walked away without looking back.
Needless to say, with the reappearance of Donovan Caine thrown into the equation, Gin's life just became even more difficult. Not only is she facing personal, painful events from the past that have never been resolved, but she is met with bitterness and scorn from Donovan when she offers to help Callie. And while Gin attempts to put her best foot forward, it's not so hard to see how Caine's venom and spite cut her deeply... even though she wishes differently. This was another pivotal turning point in Gin's growth I think... after dealing with the shock of seeing Donovan Caine again, seeing for herself exactly he moved on with his life, and how he still treated her after all the time had passed, kind of 'opened' her eyes in a way. I also think that it let her separate the job and from her personal feelings.
For me, 'By a Thread' was about realizations, growth, and a little healing. Gin wasn't the only character that needed a vacation, I didn't realize that until I was about half-way through the book. Her sister Bria needed the vacation just as much, but they both got much more than they bargained for... however, I think the outcome might have been more than worth the risk. And as I'm thinking about the some of the realizations that Gin came too, I realize she isn't the only one that discovered a few things either. Bria's character underwent an attitude adjustment in comparison from the beginning to the last few chapters... some changes even noticeable in the middle too, whether it's an attitude adjustment, appreciating family, or growing up. (However, I believe Bria credits Donovan Caine's behavior and how he treats Gin, for her behavior modification.) Regardless, it's growth and it initiates a healing process in the relationship for Bria and Gin and that's promising.
Addressing the changes in Gin seems more simple to me and it comes down to the fact that she got the closure I think she needed. She has an established trust and faith in Owen that was never present with Donovan Caine. Most of all, she has a man that has the ability to understand her need to be what she is without judgment, without feeling threatened. Gin can laugh or cry with Owen, she's not left watching him walk away without looking back. It makes all the difference in a relationship.
I read 'By a Thread' six times, that's how much I loved it. Jennifer Estep is a sheer genius. I thought the first book of the series was great and the second was even better... well, it seems like she is on a roll because so far they are building on each other and she hasn't disappointed me yet. I can wax poetic about the complexity of the plot and how kick ass Gin Blanco is, even though she is an assassin. However, I don't think my mediocre words would do this series justice. Hands down, my favorite series ever... if you haven't read the 'Elemental Assassin Series' yet, with Gin Blanco, by Jennifer Estep, give it a try... you'll likely love it as much as I do.
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