A crossover novella in two series by Jennifer Estep: 19.6 in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and 6.5 in the young adult Mythos Academy paranormal fantasy series revolving around Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost.
My Take
Estep is using first person dual protagonist points-of-view from Gin’s and Gwen’s perspectives. It is too funny how each sees the other as needing their protection. Who knew two such different “cultures” could live so close to each another and not know of their existence!?
Gin is certainly shocked that no one knows her reputation as the Spider! *Snicker* It’s a memory-filled story for Gin which allows Estep to fill us in on a lot of background; some of it is info-dumping, ahem. I also suspect some of it is useful filler.
Ooh, don’t the bad guys know not to diss each other? Especially when you’re family. Talk about a cliché with plenty more to come. They certainly are a cocky bunch — they left the labeling on the artifact crates!
It’s also cute how Estep pulls in references to her other series, including Cloudburst Falls in Black Blade and Bigtime.
Hmm, I wonder how the spider rune pattern Gwen refers to will tie into Minerva’s Dagger . . . A future crossover story?? As for Gwen’s psychometry . . . talk about good luck, lol!
More laughter ensues with the bickering between Gin’s friends and Gwen’s gang on the other side of the mountain . . . where that avalanche just happened to occur.
We’re re-introduced to Gin and Gwen with that careful assessment they do of each other with a lot of action to reinforce it.
The Story
Gwen and her fellow students and instructors from the Mythos Academy have recovered the artifacts, but the trick is getting these powerful objects back to the museum.
Who knew that a good deed would change everyone’s plans!?
The Characters
From Elemental Assassin
Gin Blanco, a.k.a. the Spider, is an assassin and the owner of the Pork Pit, a barbecue restaurant in Ashland, North Carolina. She’s also a Stone and Ice elemental. Her significant other is Owen Grayson, a Metal elemental. Detective Bria Coolidge is Gin’s younger sister and a cop with the Ashland PD. She’s involved with Finnegan “Finn” Lane, Gin’s foster brother and an investment banker obsessed with clothes. Fletcher Lane had been Finn’s dad and an assassin who originally owned the Pork Pit; he took Gin in when she was a homeless child. Silvio Sanchez, a vampire, is Gin’s personal assistant. Sophia Deveraux has an Air gift and is the cook at the Pork Pit. Eira Snow had been Gin and Bria’s mother, Annabella their older sister.
Mason Mitchell had been Gin and Bria’s evil uncle who killed Tristan, his own brother and Gin and Bria’s father and the head of the Circle, an evil secret society. Mab Monroe, with a Fire gift, had been part of the Circle and a murderer.
From Mythos Academy
Gwen Frost, an Oracle with a psychometric gift, is the Champion for Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Vic is her talking sword. Gwen’s grandmother, Grandma Frost, is also an Oracle. Grace Frost, a police detective, had been Gwen’s mother.
Logan Quinn, a Spartan warrior, is Gwen’s boyfriend. Daphne Cruz is Gwen’s Valkyrie best friend and a computer genius. Other students include Carson Callahan, Oliver Hector, and Alexei Sokolov.
The teachers from the Academy who are with them include Coach Ajax, Nickamedes (the academy’s librarian in the Library of Antiquities and Logan’s uncle), and Professor Metis.
The Protectorate is the mythological police force in Mythos Academy and is headed up by Logan’s dad, Linus Quinn.
Reapers are the bad guys who stole dozens of artifacts, including the jewel-encrusted Minerva’s Dagger, from the Crius Coliseum. Brayden Vitales, a Roman warrior, thinks he’s the leader of the Dolos Crew; Rosie; and, Dennis and George, who are Vikings. Covington lost. Argona Quinn had been Logan’s evil ex-stepmother — doesn’t say much for Linus’ intelligence. Vivian Holler had been Loki’s Champion.
Pine Crest is a charming town in the Appalachian Mountains where people escape for a vacation. Pine Crest Resort is luxurious and Pine Crest Train Station is the starting point for a scenic train ride to Cypress Mountain. Winifred is the conductor on the train.
The Cover and Title
The cover is apropos with the front of the train coming right at us in this misty mountainous track in soft grays. I did like the spider rune in yellow and orange on the front of the engine! The title is just below this in an orange-rimmed yellow. Below that is the series info in a paler yellow.
The title is succinct, for it is about Spider and Frost.