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Elemental Assassin #0.2
Web of Deceit
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.
10 pages, Online Fiction
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
1582 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Estep
97books11.9kfollowersJennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at or sign up for her newsletter: .
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Happy reading, everyone! 😎
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at or sign up for her newsletter: .
FOLLOW JENNIFER ONLINE:
Facebook:
Instagram:
Twitter:
Amazon:
BookBub:
ŷ:
Jennifer's blog:
Jennifer's newsletter:
Happy reading, everyone! 😎
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
May 12, 2016
3.5 stars
This short is told from Fletcher's POV and covers Gin's first solo gig. I feel like the guilt was laid on a bit thick, but I can't argue that it was made clear Fletcher knew more about Gin's prior circumstances than anyone suspected:
There are spoilers for future installments in this one, so don't read it until after you've finished the fourth (fifth?) full novel (TANGLED THREADS).
But definitely read it. Gin is just as badass at sixteen as she is when we first meet her a dozen or so years later in SPIDER'S BITE.
You can read it for FREE on Estep's website:
This short is told from Fletcher's POV and covers Gin's first solo gig. I feel like the guilt was laid on a bit thick, but I can't argue that it was made clear Fletcher knew more about Gin's prior circumstances than anyone suspected:
This might be the Spider’s first solo job, but the Tin Man was going to look after his apprentice tonight.
Especially since I hadn’t managed to do that before, when Gin had really needed me.
There are spoilers for future installments in this one, so don't read it until after you've finished the fourth (fifth?) full novel (TANGLED THREADS).
But definitely read it. Gin is just as badass at sixteen as she is when we first meet her a dozen or so years later in SPIDER'S BITE.
You can read it for FREE on Estep's website:
May 12, 2016
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.
We barely got a glance of Fletcher in Spider’s Bite before he was killed, and I must say that I really enjoyed this novella of Fletcher’s view on Gin’s first solo assassin job, after training with him for 3 years. Fletcher was an assassin known as the Tin Man. When someone needed a bad person found and eliminated, they hired the him. And Gin’s first job was to put a stop to the giant who was addicting runaway teenage girls and boy on drugs and then making them turn tricks for money.
There were very interesting things in this novella: The reasons for why Fletcher decided on the Spider as Gin's assassin name and the revelation about Fletcher's part in Gin’s past. It explained a lot about some things that came to light in Web of Lies. I cannot wait to find out more about that.
And seeing how sixteen year old Gin handled her first job was FANTASTIC!!! I am definitely in love with Gin Blanco. She is da bomb.
A must read for all fans of this series. To be read only after book 2.
October 14, 2012
I got to see a little bit further into what Gin is about during this short story and I am beginning to like the relationship she has with Fletcher... I am also looking forward to starting the first book really soon.
May 29, 2016
Gin's first solo job as the Spider. From Fletcher's POV. I liked seeing more from him. The worry and pride he shows for Gin melt my heart. Too bad he died :( Maybe there'll be more short stories from his point of view.
October 6, 2021
Series: Elemental Assassin #0.2
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
A short scene told from Fletcher Lane’s perspective. It shows his protectiveness towards Gin while she completes her first solo assassination. It was great to see that he was proud of her and treated her like a daughter. I wish we had more Fletcher stories.
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
A short scene told from Fletcher Lane’s perspective. It shows his protectiveness towards Gin while she completes her first solo assassination. It was great to see that he was proud of her and treated her like a daughter. I wish we had more Fletcher stories.
June 4, 2013
Awwww .... Gin's first solo job. And like any doting papa, Fletcher is there to make sure she doesn't need his help slicing and dicing her way through the mark. Surprisingly sweet considering that the job involved cutting throats and stabbing folks in the heart.
-Kelly @
Web of Deceit is a free read on the author's website.
-Kelly @
Web of Deceit is a free read on the author's website.
December 5, 2014
Absolutely loved this first look at Gin going solo with Fletcher not far behind watching over her.
Love this series so darn much and all the tangled webs that lead back to one event, one time in history that is also Gin's future.
Love this series so darn much and all the tangled webs that lead back to one event, one time in history that is also Gin's future.
August 3, 2018
4 Stars... A quick glimpse into the first solo job for Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, as seen through the eyes of her mentor Fletcher Lane... We get to witness Fletcher’s fatherly affection towards Gin as well as some glimpses as to his role in her past trauma... A sneak preview towards what is to come in the future:)
May 14, 2021
Now that the series is over, I'm going back and finishing off the online shorts. This prequel story, set when the protagonist of the series, Gin, is 16, was not well written. Really, I'm finding now with the benefit of hindsight that probably none of the books were.
The word choice is often odd and clunky. Like how strange it is for this older assassin guy to describe the silverstone medallions shaped like spiders that were burned into Gin's palms. This was all just an infodump for the sake of the reader and not actual dialogue, but still, the phrasing and attention to detail in the infodump felt odd and unrealistic.
The actual story here is fine. It describes one of Gin's first assassination jobs. There is a fight scene and death. It was enjoyable enough.
The word choice is often odd and clunky. Like how strange it is for this older assassin guy to describe the silverstone medallions shaped like spiders that were burned into Gin's palms. This was all just an infodump for the sake of the reader and not actual dialogue, but still, the phrasing and attention to detail in the infodump felt odd and unrealistic.
The actual story here is fine. It describes one of Gin's first assassination jobs. There is a fight scene and death. It was enjoyable enough.
February 12, 2013
I love Fletcher Lane :D
October 17, 2014
Haha I liked Fletcher's pov as he watched from the shadows Gin's first assignment like a proud papa. It's really amazing to watch how strong Gin was even at her age of sixteen.
November 1, 2015
reread
October 19, 2018
Another thoroughly enjoyable short edition to the Elemental Assassin series. It features Gin’s first kill, her youth and the pride and care that Fletcher takes in his young apprentice. I’m still only halfway through the first novel, and it is obvious in this how much Gin cares for her mentor, so it was incredibly nice to read about his feelings towards her.
I’m kind of obsessive over assassin books at the moment. They feature people who should, theoretically be completely deplorable, but often highlight this intense vulnerability and lack of family that many people would probably understand. And if not, well, it’s still fun to read about some incredibly badass characters (woman) who is able to hold life or death in the palm of her hand� literally.
I’m kind of obsessive over assassin books at the moment. They feature people who should, theoretically be completely deplorable, but often highlight this intense vulnerability and lack of family that many people would probably understand. And if not, well, it’s still fun to read about some incredibly badass characters (woman) who is able to hold life or death in the palm of her hand� literally.
January 3, 2018
Web of Deceit is a short story in the world of Gin Blanco, aka The Spider. Based in the past, this story is told from Fletcher Lane's POV as he watches Gin's first solo mission from the shadows. Face-to-face with a drug dealer and human trafficker, Gin completes her mission even though it goes a tad off-kilter. Gin truly was and is a strong person and she handled herself like a pro. I enjoyed the extra insight into Gin's evolution into The Spider.
January 4, 2020
#0.2 in the Elemental Assassin series
Pretty gruesome, this short story describes Gin's first solo job (at age 16), as told from the point of view of Fletcher Lane, her trainer. She takes care of a giant and his brother who own and run a whorehouse of teenaged runaways, after they hook them on drugs.
Pretty gruesome, this short story describes Gin's first solo job (at age 16), as told from the point of view of Fletcher Lane, her trainer. She takes care of a giant and his brother who own and run a whorehouse of teenaged runaways, after they hook them on drugs.
February 6, 2021
Insight into Fletcher and why he originally helped Gin, and why he trained her as an assassin. I feel like there are 2 big spoilers in this snippet, but luckily they are things I had already been assuming. I'm only about halfway through the first full book, so I don't know when this should be read to avoid spoilers.
May 14, 2017
Another short story (too short :( - )... added some nice elements to the background of Gin, and Fletcher. I liked it! It filled in some questions I had after reading book 1... this was a nice addition to the story line.
July 28, 2017
Told from Fletcher Lane's perspective, this is Gin's solo job as an assassin. At sixteen, she is to take down a bad, bad giant named Jimmy Fontaine. Does she have the nerves (and the knives) to do the deed? You betcha! She may be young, but she shows how ruthless she can be.
May 16, 2020
Alright, this was an amazing narrative from the old guy, the Tin Man. I am in love with the chemistry between him and Gin; the pride in taking revenge. Her first assignment wasn't clean but she didn't flinch. I am just curious how she's gonna grow out to be. Nevertheless, another great premise!
May 28, 2017
El padre orgulloso. Lo mejor de ver a tu hija crecer es como se hace cargo de dos gigantes por si sola. Y luego cunado llega a casa te pide de comer.
February 8, 2018
Great back story!
August 28, 2018
Great read. Loved knowing the beginning of this character.
January 22, 2020
Nice little story about Gin! Read the first book before reading and I think you'll get more out of this story!
March 28, 2020
Definitely interests me to read more.
July 13, 2020
A cute family story of Fletcher teaching Gin to kill and the skill to be an assassin. He's such a proud father. The gruff crotchety old assassin that he is.
September 29, 2020
Great short about Gin's first kill, told from Fletcher's POV.
paranormal
November 13, 20216
August 16, 2023
Good little story. Nice to see some early Gin
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
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