Drink Deep Review

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5)

-          Chloe Neill

Publisher: Gollancz

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...
Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for both the vampires and humans.

After a long wait between books three and four, I didn’t leave it very long before picking up book five in this series (See, I can learn from my mistakes!). After the shocking ending of book four, I thought this would be the start of a very different journey for Merit, the new vampire and Sentinel of Cadogan House and while there are some changes, this is essentially more of the same as we’ve had before. Something has turned the Great Lake black and while humans are blaming the vampires, Merit is tasked with trying to figure out what it is and how to resolve it. This means she gets to visit various supernatural groups around town and asks them if they had anything to do with it. It’s not the most original investigative route but for some reason it seems to work for Merit!

There are a lot characters in this book – I really liked getting to know Joshua and watching how he and Merit interact now  - it seemed like a step in the right direction. Mallory, Merit’s best friend is stressed about her sorcesser’s exam, while the vampires within Cadogan House continue to seem some of the most human vampires in Urban Fantasy complete with movie marathon and favourite bars. There is one character that is conspicuous by his absence but is never-the-less mentioned frequently and really casts a tall shadow over the whole plot. However, I really wanted Merit accept the current situation more – which made me a little disappointed that there was some balance returned by the end (Really difficult to talk about without spoilers!). The ending seemed a little simple and there are a few long running plot elements that are mentioned and still not resolved  - I hope they aren’t dragged on too long. However, it would be a big emotional punch for Merit and I hope this vibrates around the next book!

Despite these few reservations, Chloe Neill does have a knack for creating a world that feels real – there is colour behind the descriptions and personality behind the characters (even if you don’t always like them!). I always seem to get through these books far too quickly, leaving me wanting to know how the events of one book will impact Merit and her friends going forward. These books are like sushi – tasty and filling – something you get the occasional craving for but could use a little soya sauce to be extra delicious!

Recommended for fans of Jennifer Estep and Patricia Briggs. 7.5 out of 10

Hard Bitten Review

Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4)

- Chloe Neill

 

Publisher: Gollancz

 

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals-and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are...tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.
Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society-a world full of vampires who seem ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands...

 

I seem to have a bit of blind spot when it comes to this series – I have really grown to love Merit (especially now she’s no longer moaning about being a vampire) and the rest of the characters (Ethan, Christina and the rest!) and the last book I gave a high rating. Yet, I have let this book and the next one sit on my TBR shelf for months depriving myself of a thoroughly entertaining and exciting read! Bad Mel!

 

The vampire raves mentioned in Friday Night Bites reappear here (as they weren’t really solved in that book) and look to be a big political problem for Ethan and the rest of his house. Merit in her role as Sentinel is asked to investigate and ends up entangled in vampire politics, blood raves and the possibly reappearance of her biggest enemy… There is a lot going on here which makes for an exciting read – especially if you like politics as well as action. Merit is still struggling to walk the fine line between her duties to the house and her feelings for Ethan. For the first time I really felt Ethan was trying to make an effort with Merit and open up more than he has before.

 

Merit spends a lot of time investigating by herself in the story leaving her free to visit friends when she needs help, but also showing she can handle herself now. There is a lovely under current of snark and humour. And while Merit is a vampire, she has never really lost her humanity managing to indulge in greasy food and bad reality TV as well. I loved that Merit still found time to be there for Mallory, her best friend who is going through some major life changing events as well. Overall, I felt Merrit has really grown up now and is spending less time bemoaning her situation – I hope this attitude continues!

 

I really felt like this was the beginning of many storylines with some elements wrapped up, while introducing us to possible new complications. I’m not going to spoil the ending but there is a big emotional punch at the end that I didn’t see coming and will have big influence on where the series goes from here. Hopefully I won’t leave it so long to read the next book, Drink Deep, which is already sat on my TBR pile…

 

Recommended for fans of Mercy Thompson and Jennifer Estep. 8.5 out of 10.

 

Twice Bitten Review

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires 3)

-       Chloe Neill

Publisher: UK – Gollancz

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission. Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.

Why have I waited so long before reading this book? Because I’m a fool! Although I’ve had Twice Bitten since it was released in the UK, I’ve only just got round to reading it. And I had a fantastic time catching up with Merit, Ethan and the rest of the Cardoc house vampires. The shapeshifters are in town for a conference to decide whether to withdraw from the human world or stay and face the challenges alongside the vampires.

This time round I fell straight into writing which subtle merges Merits emotional journey and her coming to terms with her new life as a vampire Sentinel as well as her attraction for her house master, Ethan. Add the action of fighting shapeshifters and you have a wonderfully emotional and exciting story. Merit is a heroine you can root for. I loved that she and Ethan moved their relationship forward – even if he then screws things up. Why can’t UF heroine have happy straight forward relationships? Beside the emotional side, there is plenty of snarky banter between characters which I always enjoy. The action is fairly straight forward but exciting and I found I couldn’t read the pages fast enough.

The expansion of the world with the shapeshifters final decision means that the world will change around Merit and I can’t wait to read Hard Bitten to see what happens now! Luckily I have Hard Bitten waiting to be read! J

Recommended for fans of Patricia Briggs and Kelley Armstrong. 9 out of 10

Friday Night Bites Review

Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires 2)

- Chloe Neill

Publisher: UK – Gollancz

VAMPIRES IN CHICAGO! You'd think a headline like that would have made the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying celebrity statue and fending off the paparazzi, who are only slightly less dangerous than angry stake-wielding slayers. Don't get me wrong - Joe Public isn't exactly thrilled to be living side by side with the undead, but at least they haven't stormed the castle . . . not yet . . . But it could be a matter of time. There's a first-time reporter sniffing around vampire society, and if he uncovers the Raves - mass feeding parties, where vampires round humans up like cattle and drink themselves silly. The fact that it's majorly frowned upon by vamp society won't make a difference to that kind of a headline, or a new reporter who's out to impress his family. So now my 'master' - the centuries-old yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan - wants me to reconnect with my own upper-class family and act as liaison between humans and vampire . . . and use the opportunity to keep the less savoury aspects of vamp existence out of the media spotlight. Tough job, when it seems someone doesn't want vamps and humans to play nicely - someone with a serious, ancient grudge . . .

The best thing about Friday Night Bites is Merit the main character. She has a style that is easy to read, is tongue in cheek without being forced and someone I would like to spend time with. There’s some good exploration of Merit’s relationships in this especially with her best friend, Mallory – who deserves a book of her own. I also enjoyed learning a little bit about Merit’s family – meeting her sister and niece was actually one of my favourite bits – more of Charlotte and Olivia please!

Unfortunately the plot of this book felt more like an after thought. It didn’t really make sense – the threat against the vampires – opening the rave culture was a good idea – but in order to stop it, Merit has go to formal functions... huh? In addition, the reaction of one of the wealthy families didn’t ring true to me – if your family were threatened by vampires would you ask the vampires to solve it? There’s less action in this book, that in Some Girl’s Bite, the first book – apart from a big action sequence at the end that seems tacked on.

Overall the book was easy read and amusing, if you didn’t want to think too hard. I’m probably going to try the next book in the series, but Some Girls Bite was much more fun.

Recommended for fans of Tanya Huff and Charlaine Harris. 6 out of 10.