Last Strand: Elemental Assassin, Book 19

4.5 stars--LAST STRAND is the nineteenth and final (for now) instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary, adult ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN urban fantasy/paranormal series focusing on Gin Blanco aka the Spider aka The Assassin-the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland, LAST STRAND can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order or at the very least, read SHARPEST STING book 18. SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, Gin lost her father to a supposed accident, then her mother and older sister to a deliberate fire started by a fire elemental, a fire ordered by the notorious group known only as The Circle. Fostered and mentored by Fletcher Lane, Gin would become the fiercest elemental assassin the Underworld would ever know. NOTE: There are some scenes of graphic violence that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers. Told from first person perspective (Gin Blanco) using present day and memories from the past, LAST STRAND follows the beginning of the end for the group known as The Circle. Gin Blanco has spent most of her life training for and defending against a number of enemies, all with ties to The Circle. With the revelations about her father’s murder, and the person responsible, Gin struggles with the information and connection to her extended family, family that is about to meet its’ match. When an ultimatum is given, Gin must take aggressive steps to protect the people she loves, and in this, ending the life of the person out to destroy them all. The leader of the Circle is gunning for our heroine, beginning with the take down and demise of her business, and everything it entails. The familiar secondary and supporting characters include Gin’s sister Bria, and her step-brother Finn Lane (Bria’s lover); Gin’s assistant /vampire Silvio Sanchez, vampire Roslyn Phillips, police officer and giant Xavier dwarves Jo Jo and Sophia Deveraux, Lorelei Parker, as well as Underworld boss and security specialist Liam Carter, vampire Hugh Tucker, Bellum Bank owners and fire elementals Charles Yang, and his daughter Drusilla; elemental and giant Emery Slater, and current leader of The Circle Mason Mitchell. LAST STRAND is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control; greed, avarice, hatred and malice. The premise is exciting and engaging; the characters are fierce, energetic and determined- the camaraderie and friendships are electric and deep. Jennifer Estep has revealed LAST STRAND is the final instalment (for now) in the Elemental Assassin series but the author has plans for more stories focusing on the secondary characters introduced throughout the series. The Elemental Assassin series is a dramatic, thrilling and wonderful series.