Review: The Sight by Chloe Neill (@chloeneill)

Series: Devil's Isle
Publisher: NAL
Published: August 16, 2016
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 347 pages

Quote-Tastic: Midnight Marked by Chloe Neill (@chloeneill)

Midnight Marked

Chicagoland Vampires, #12
Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: New American Library/Berkley Publishing
Date of Publication: March 1, 2016
Number of pages: 384

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Review: The Veil by Chloe Neill

The Veil

Devil's Isle, #1
Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Penguin Group
Date of Publication: August 4, 2015
Number of pages: 352

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Audio Review: Dark Debt by Chloe Neill

Dark Debt

Chicagoland Vampires, #11
Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Sophie Eastlake
Date of Publication: Unabridged
Abridged or Unabridged:
Length of Production: 11 hrs and 10 mins

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Audio Review: Blood Games by Chloe Neill

Blood Games

Chicagoland Vampires, #10
Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Sophie Eastlake
Date of Publication: August 5, 2014
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 10 hrs and 20 mins

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Audiobook Review: Wild Things by Chloe Neill

I can't believe it. Book 9 of the Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neil, and I am officially caught up until August when Blood Games comes out.  So far, it looks like there will be a total of 13 books in the series, and quite frankly with where this book ended and the current goals they have, I don't know if that is going to be enough.

The book starts up right on the heels of the end of Biting Bad.  Ethan is making plans to leave the city since it looks like Mayor Kowalcyzk isn't going to back down anytime soon. The only recourse is to not be available, and hope that a diplomatic solution can be reached.  It's been decided that they will go to the Breckenridge's estate while cooler heads try to prevail.  The Breckenridge's live outside Chicago and have both the material and political capital to keep the Mayor from trying anything drastic at their estate.  The plan is to hang out with Catcher, Mallory and the Pack during their yearly get together called Lupercalia.

But things are never simple when it comes to Chicago Supernatural gatherings. Especially when during the opening nights festivities, there is a Harpy attack that causes the deaths of 4 shifters and 1 is missing. In addition to all this fun, the GP sends a representative to censure the House due to the death that occurred in the last book. After the Mayor accuses all 3 Chicago House Leaders of being Domestic Terrorists, and the surprise appearance of a long believed extinct supernatural race, Merit is up to her neck in trouble.

Several books ago, it was hinted at that Merit and Ethan were going to have a child together, even though Vamps can't conceive and carry a child to term. I have wondered about this and nearly lost hope when Ethan was staked, but one he returned, I waited, impatiently for it to be brought back up.  It is, in a big way, in this book. I'm not saying she gets pregnant, but we find out much more about the prophecy and what will be needed to be done to get there. This was a very action packed book and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the next book. This was a 5 star listen.

Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out.

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Audiobook Review: Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

I can't believe that I have just finished book 8 in the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill.  There is only one more to go before I am caught up. The series has over all been very good. This latest release had a slower feel to it, the pace and action, building slowly over time, till by the end I couldn't believe where they ended up. I will say that if I hadn't had the next book ready to go, I would have been upset about the bit of cliffhanger ending.

Merit, the Sentinel of Cadagon House, has been slowly becoming more confident and sure in her position of the last eight books.  Even though she was turned to save her life, it was without her permission. When she found out that her father played a part in the attack and subsequent save, she is beyond upset with him. Merit has continued to wonder and wish certain days that she could go back to her human existence. What happens at the end of this book, finally allows Merit to decide once and for all, just who she wants to be.

The were some very interesting scenes in this book. Merit faces down rioters, takes Sullivan home for dinner with her parents, there's a fight with the GP on the front lawn, battling a burning building and even an uber-romantic Valentine's moment. Merit once again ends up in the thick of things, proving that she is the go-to girl for investigating the supernatural problems of Chicago.

This book wrapped up some things from previous books, but opened up a whole host more issues for the upcoming books.  The overall story line has been well thought out and I continue to adore the secondary characters that are vital to keeping the story moving, although I think the author was a giant tease with giving us basic instructions on making that flourless chocolate torte with raspberry chocolate ganache glaze, but not sharing the recipe! And the worst part? We didn't even get to listen to Merit eating any of it either. I cry foul! Overall, I liked the slow build, with tension rising until the big finish. It was a nice change of pace and gave the book a different feel, helping with the idea that the story will be moving in a new direction. A 4 star read.

Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she's already seen a lifetime's worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who's behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there's any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

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Audiobook Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill

Here I am with the Chicagoland Vampires, book 7. Its hard to believe that I am just about caught up with the series. Only 2 more book to go till I join those waiting anxiously for the next installment. After my disappointments with Biting Cold, I was happy that I was able to pretty much have a handle on all the voices and characters.  Just a reminder, there will be spoilers for previous books in the series. Otherwise this review would be about 3 sentences long. :)

Our story starts with Merit and Ethan getting ready to deal with the fall out of choosing to leave the GP before they are thrown out. Ethan being the strong Strat that he is, has gotten together a team to help keep the figurative bloodshed to a minimum.  One of the people on his transition team though gives Merit some serious pause, Lacey Sheridan - Ethan's former lover and current Master of Sheridan House. The woman who wants Ethan back.

But that's not all that is going on.  Two rogue vampires are found killed in an old warehouse, in a hidden room. They are found decapitated, holding hands. Pieces of aspen found in the room leads them to think that McKettrick, the new Human Liaison and staunch Vamp Hater, had something to do with it. But there is also the drama of Merit's initiation into the Red Guard and Lacey's misinterpretation of it, which leads to Ethan finding out about Merit's involvement.  Throw in trying to build back her relationship with Mallory and find a missing art piece before they are attached by the fairies and Merit is not having a good week.

Ethan showed some real growth in his relationship with Merit and I can honestly say that I only wanted to throttle him a few times in this book, versus other books where it was a nearly constant impulse.  The GP continues to show that they are out of touch asshats and I keep wondering when exactly the rest of the Houses are going to clue in to this fact and revolt. This was an exciting book and I gave it a firm 4 stars.

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of twenty-seven, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal—tested like never before.

It started with two... Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

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Audiobook Review: Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

This is book 6 of the Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill, and I wasn't 3 sentences in before I was completely ticked off.  Why? Because we have a new narrator, Sophie Eastlake. Not that she didn't do a good job. Kinda. I guess.  But I had Cynthia Halloway's voice locked in my head and suddenly nobody sounded like they once did and I am having trouble figuring out who is who.  To be honest, I had a huge problem with the male voices for the first quarter of the book; they all sounded alike to each other. It felt just like someone had taken a well loved tv show cast and replaced everyone of the actors, but went on as if nothing had changed. Let's just say that I'm a bit bitter about the change and continue on.

Biting Cold jumps right into the story with Merit and Ethan having to head out after Mallory to stop her from gaining the Maleficent once again. Mallory managed to escape the Order, and was headed for Nebraska and the empty nuclear warhead silo that is was being housed in. Just before they leave out, they get the news that former Mayor Seth Tate was released as well.  And so it becomes a race to see who would get to it first.

At first I thought Ethan had finally got his shit together after being killed and brought back, but he once again pulled his "I can't be with you right now" crap. I seriously don't understand how come Merit didn't give up on him once and for all. Fortunately this time, Merit got some better advice than, "Be the bigger person, be professional, let him see what he's missing." The new advice was more along the lines of "smack him upside his head till he pulls it out of his ass." Merit did a very nice job performing the cranial rectal inversion and what follows is a very nice smexy scene that was long overdue between Merit and Ethan.

This was a book very much about forgiveness and redemption leading to new beginnings.  It was the closing of a couple different story arcs and the beginnings of others.  The next book, House Rules should prove very interesting.  I gave this book 3 stars, mainly because I am still cranky about the narrator change.

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined. And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans.

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.

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Audiobook Review: Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

I am going to give everyone a heads up right now: This review is going to have spoilers from previous books. If you haven't read them and hate spoilers, Stop Reading Now.  You have been warned.

After the conclusion of Hard Bitten, book 4 in the Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill, I was in a bit of a state of shock. I mean how often does an author kill of the main love interest in a series?  It takes a serious leap of faith to emotionally rip our hearts from our chests like she did and trust that we will come back for more.

And yet we did.  Because Merit must continue on, because the House must continue on. Especially with the feared Receiver showing up and taking over the house, implementing outrageous rules. (Think Dolores Umbridge in HP 6) Plus there is yet another supernatural problem going on that puts vampires in general and Cadogan House in particular in the spotlight. One that increases the rioters outside Cadogan House.

Luckily, for Merit, Jonah is willing to partner up with her while she tries to figure out who is up to what. Jonah is Head of the House Guard at Grey House and her prospective partner if she decides to join the Red Guard. Which with the way the Presidium and the GP are handling the events that have transpired in Chicago, is starting to look better and better to Merit.

This book takes Merit deeper in the supernatural community as she questions everyone trying to figure out who is to blame for the elemental imbalances shaking the city, all while disturbing dreams of Ethan haunt her during her day sleep. This is the book where everything that has come before gets mixed up, shaken up and dumped on its head. But the ending is what had me gasping and trying to come to terms with what just happened. Because, damn, just damn. This was an incredible story and well earned its 4 stars.

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit 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 haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black—and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. 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 vampires and humans alike.

Available at the following retailers:
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Audiobook Review: Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

This is the fourth book in the Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill and narrated by Cynthia Holloway. All of our favorites are back and once again, Merit has been placed into the role of investigator trying to keep Cadogan House clear of any blowback from supernatural shenanigans.

After the asshattery of Ethan Sullivan, the master of Cadogan House in Twice Bitten, I was happy to see that Merit hadn't simply forgiven him. Merit was making Ethan work for her forgiveness.  Her simply calling him Liege, and acting with the "Grateful Condescension" at all times, is making Ethan crazy. Add in the Mayor extorting Ethan into investigating and a claim that 3 young women have died in what sounds like a Vampire rave, plus the GP showing up unannounced from England and poor Ethan is not having a good week. The topper is the GP telling Ethan that he is not to give into the demands of the Mayor and let the humans figure it out for themselves.

Merit knows that this isn't something that is just going to go away on its own. When a drug called "V" starts turning up, the stakes become even higher.  As the Sentinel of Cadogan House, Merit knows that to protect her House, she needs to put a stop to it before something happens that can't be fixed. Merit ends up working closely with Jonah, the Head of the Guard for Gray House, as well with her grandfather's Ombudsman office.

This book takes us deep into Vampire Politics. Turns out its not so different from Human Politics, just much more entrenched in the past and they have longer to scheme and manipulate events.  As plain spoken as Merit is, this is a world that she fights to understand and navigate.  There is a shocking event towards the end of this book that I did not see coming. I was totally floored, but have faith in the world that Ms. Neill is building that I will be pleased in the end.  This was a fantastic book and really a pivotal book in the series.  I gave it 4 stars.

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 an 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 to be 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.

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Audio Review: Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Twice Bitten is the third book in the Chicagoland Vampire series and picks up almost immediately following the events at the end of book 2.  Merit has been receiving these red envelopes with hinting at an invitation to some thing special. I admit that I had this crazy thought that they were some kind of invitation to the Raves that they had been investigating. Turns out I was way wrong. Turns out, Merit has been invited to join the historic Red Guard, the secret police of the Vampire Masters. She is flabbergasted by the invitation, especially with how new she is and with her loyalties still forming in her mind, she requests some time to think about the offer.

When Gabriel, the Apex of the North American Shifters requests Ethan and especially Merit to be part of the security for the up coming pack meetings and massive event called the Convocation. This put Merit and Ethan neck deep in shifter politics.  All the while dealing with a break up with her semi-kinda boyfriend Morgan, a fight with her best friend Mallory and the confusing feeling growing between herself and Ethan.

This book took us deeper into the Vampire world, gave us more insight into the Shifter world, let Merit start using all that training she has been getting, thrilled those rooting from a Ethan/Merit pairing then broke our hearts and ended with a bang. I was so much happier with where this book versus book 2.  I felt like Merit is really starting to get her head on and grow into the position of Sentinel for her house as well as a bad ass chick. I am really enjoying the direction this book is headed and can't wait to start the next book. I had to give this book 4 stars.

Merit, Chicago's newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. 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.

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.

Merit must accept the assignment even though she knows that she'll probably regret it. And she's not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, 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 centuries-old green-eyed Master vampire.

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Audio Review: Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

This is the second book in the Chicagoland Vampire Series and continues Merit's journey as a newly turned vampire.  I jumped right into the second audiobook after listening to the first and I continue to enjoy Cynthia Holloway's performance of Merit and the other characters.

It has been a few weeks following the end of book one and Merit is becoming more accepting of who and what she has become. Merit is also growing into her position as Sentinel for Cadogan House.  She is still training with Catcher Bell. And partially due to Catcher's growing relationship with her best friend Mallory and partially because being 20 minutes away from Cadogan House was just unacceptable, Merit moves into the mansion. Merit is still dating Morgan who is now the head of Gray house since Celina has been remanded to the Greenwich Presidio following the end of book one.

Life gets even more complicated for Merit when Sullivan has her reconnect with her estranged family in order to gain the connections necessary to help with an investigation into Raves. But working closely with Ethan doesn't do anything to help with the very ambivalent feelings she has for Morgan or the way Ethan continues to run hot and cold toward her.

I spent a lot of this book wanting to smack Merit and tell her to tell Ethan to get over himself. I understand that she has committed to the House, but the way Ethan jerks her emotions around, and she lets him, just pisses me off. While there was a mystery to be solved, there was less action until the end of the story. This felt more like a transitional story. Merit transitioning from student to a warrior. Merit transitioning from thinking about herself to thinking about others first. Merit transitioning from young adult to full grown adult. That didn't make it a bad story, just not one where we see a lot of forward momentum. I gave it 3stars.

Vampires in Chicago!

You'd think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we're enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross- and 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...yet.

All that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior—but that doesn't make good copy for a first-time reporter looking to impress his high-society 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 vampires...and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn't want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

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Audio Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

My sister has been a big fan of this series for years.  So when I was looking for things to listen to on my commute, and I saw the series, I figured I would give it a try.

We first meet Merit when she is waking up in the back of a limo.  She is wearing a black cocktail dress and Jimmy Choos. She feels groggy and tries hard to remember why she is in the limo wearing clothes that aren't hers.  The last clear memory she has was of walking across campus one night and being attacked by a rogue vampire.  Then someone cradling her and another bite at her neck.  When she feels her neck, it is smooth and shred free.

Merit is taken home to the brownstone she lives in with her best friend and roommate Mallory.  Merit has been gone for three days, during which she has been "changed". Mallory was so worried that she ended up calling Merit's parents to let them know. Merit and her father, Joshua Merit, rarely see eye to eye and Merit plays the black sheep of the family.  She is however, extremely close to her grandfather, Chuck Merit.  He was a cop with the Chicago Police Department for over 30 years before retiring. While she isn't worried overly what her parents will think of the change, Merit is very worried about telling her grandfather. With sarcastic Mallory at her side, Merit will have to learn the ropes of being a Vampire and come to turns with being turned without her consent, even it it saved her life.

I really enjoyed this book.  Cynthia Holloway did a fantastic job of narrating this and bring the voices of Merit, Mallory, Ethan, and assorted others to life. Merit has to learn to accept the changes that have taken place in her life and accept that sometimes your life doesn't always follow the path you thought it would. The by play between Merit and Mallory was fun to listen to.  We should all have a best friend like Mallory in our life.  I think this was a great start to a series and gave it 4 stars.

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world—and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker...and this one decided that the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude—and servitude. Right.

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

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