Review: Bitter Bite

Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This bite is more bitter than expected. This is a 3.5 star book as I did feel a strong emotion in this book. Specifically, I felt anger. Finn is a superlative con man. When his "long dead" mother arrives on the scene, she does so in a sneaky way. She is a client first and after Finn is totally enamoured by her charm, it is too late for Gin to warn him. After years of being Finn's family, it is all thrown away because she isn't family by blood. This book hurts. There is no other way to say it. It seems that the people closest to Gin hurt her the most. They cut her with such deep slices and she takes it silently and stoically. She may not rail, but I do.

I am pissed at Finn. I get it. He has mommy issues. He should know Gin better and he does, but his emotions lead him in a different direction. It is as if his mother is always just one step ahead of Gin. This is beyond frustrating. The problem I have with this series is that Gin is always having to prove herself. After all this time, after all she does for everyone, why do they not give her the benefit of the doubt? Also, why does she seem to do things the hard way? She is hard headed, stubborn and for an assassin, surprisingly non-confrontational. Seriously, half the issues in this series are due to lack of communication. I just want to beat on all of them and force them to have adult discussions.

What I like most about this series, is how Ms. Estep takes us back in time and stroll through Gin's memories. Her memories suck. Her life sucked. Even after she's been saved by the "Tinman", she still experiences bad times. If anyone would be dysfunctional as an adult, it would be Gin. She is surprisingly adjusted for a someone who seems to be kicked around all her life. Can she not have at least one happy memory? Is there not at least some memory which brings her happiness and peace? To have some cherished memory which doesn't contain a brutal lesson or painful beginning isn't too much to ask for, is it? Integrating Gin's experience and memories make for a better story because they all tie together. I like this because this is how I process and handle issues I run into now. Showing how Gin becomes who she is through her experiences works well for me. I like it. This story is still a page turner even if it hurts a heart to see Gin once again being treated abysmally.

Just as I think this series will end, Ms. Estep introduces another game changer. This new piece of information into Gin's past shakes her world. It also promises to provide answers to the many questions piling up in the background like the corpses Gin needs to dispose. The question is, will Gin like the answers she finds out about her mother or not? I'm intrigued and eagerly awaiting the next book in this fabulous serious. Recommended for urban fantasy lovers who enjoy angst.

*provided by Edelweiss



View all my reviews