One Good Book Deserves Another

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 4
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Length: 368 Pages, 5175 Locations
Formats: Paperback, Kindle


Note: This review is spoiler-free.

It's been two months since a failed attack on Cadogan House thrust shapeshifters out of the proverbial closet and into public eye. The halcyon days of public awe and superstardom for vampires have since been replaced by a growing restlessness and antipathy, increased violence, and anti-vampire protests. Bigotry and hatred, fear and loathing are all on the rise, threatening the safety of all vampires in the city. It's a social and political nightmare.

When word leaks out that raves have gotten out of control, the mayor of Chicago, in an effort to stay afloat in politics, yanks Ethan and Merit into his office for a bit of old school motivation. Unless Ethan, Master of Cadogan House, and Merit, Cadogan House Sentinel, puts an end to the raves in his city and finds out who's responsible for the alleged slaughter and feeding frenzies being reported, Ethan will be arrested and vampires will start to get ground up in the political machine of species regulation and segregation.

While solving that mystery may be on Mayor Tate's agenda, Merit has broader concerns, because the GP, a group of fusty old vamps who have no clue or apparent concern for the human impact on American Houses, has Cadogan House hands tied in some pretty tight knots. That means she's got to keep Ethan out of the know and solve this mystery without his assistance so the fallout doesn't prompt the GP to take down the House. Even with their romantic conflicts, that thought doesn't sit well with Merit. Not to mention her astounding lack of faith in or respect for the GP, as she's already seen just how impotent and unconcerned they were in their dealings (or lack of) with Celina Desaulniers. When evidence comes to light that points again in Celina's direction, it's up to Merit to find out what that bitch is trying to pull this time...while tiptoeing her way through a growing mass of prejudiced, hate-spewing humans looking for war.

Sometimes, Merit realizes, immortality bites.

This fourth installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series reminds me of why I became such a fan. Unlike most urban fantasy series, CV isn't about superhero-esque battles of good versus evil, or end of the world threats, or apocalyptic megalomania. At it's core, the series is about a geeky college girl who becomes a vampire and has to learn to adapt to a world of vamp business, vamp politics, vamp alliances, and human/vampire relations. And there's really nothing very supernatural about any of that, as vampires are all just people trying to stay alive, keep each other safe, and live a normal (for them) life. That normalcy...that mundane but easy-to-relate-to backdrop was very appealing to me in a genre heavily populated by weapons, warriors, and wild weirdness.

Merit, as the heroine, is totally lovable...in a frustrating, stubborn, head strong, naive, sometimes bumbling, occasionally (and admittedly) immature sort of way. Actually, all the characters are very well done, and I love many of them, but Merit is really the reason I read the series.

In the four months that have passed since Merit became vampire, her increasing confidence in her job and in herself seems natural, organic to her character, and believable. Neill's strengths seem to lie in character development and it serves readers particularly well when it comes to Merit. Ethan, too, has evolved in this book, and he's no longer the total Darth Sullivan that was so imposing (but hot!) and forbidding (very hot!) in the first book. It was nice to see some of his earnestness and his softer side.

I wasn't pleased, though, with the amount of time allotted to belaboring the relationship between Merit and Ethan. At the end of the last book, there appeared to have been some progress made between them and the book ended, I thought, on a happier, or at least more hopeful note than existed in any place in this book. Merit was, I thought, disproportionately unforgiving to Ethan, and Ethan, despite assuring Merit he was going to be patient at the end of the last book, seemed to push again and again for redemption and another chance. After awhile, that much focus becomes emotionally exhausting and, frankly, it slows down the pacing of the rest of the story threads.

And that's not even mentioning how ticked off it makes the romantic in me. But we're not going there in this review, because if I start, I will not stop. Until maybe November.

There were a few other things that I wasn't thrilled with in this book that I haven't been bothered with previously. Characters I've loved didn't have as significant a roll here. There wasn't enough Mallory, Catcher, or Lindsey, who bring out the adorable snark in Merit, so much of that, too, was diminished. And I'm so sick of Morgan Greer I could spit. If I have to listen to him whine one more time about how Celina was his Master, and that's why he had to do such-and-such or so-and-so which has completely screwed over Merit, et al, I sincerely hope someone stakes him. Slowly.

I remember the days when I felt bad for the guy, because he was really trying with Merit, and though he manipulated the situation, I sorta liked him. I definitely liked him and Merit together - their personalities meshed well. Problem is, Merit has grown up and Morgan - despite his advanced age - hasn't. More troubling, his scenes with Merit are starting to be repetitive because of it.

Also troubling me is Neill's habit of 80-85% of slow, sometimes plodding mystery investigation that doesn't go much of anywhere interspersed with the day-to-day vampire existence and romantic angst, followed by 15-20% of a crime solving, truth revealing, conflict climax and resolution that explodes plot progression and revelation all over you until you're dripping with it. Or, as in the case of Hard Bitten, dripping from it. There just isn't the sort of steady progression of  information and slowly revealing plot points that more plot-driven books are known for in the world of the Chicagoland Vampires. Because of that, the mystery of the strangely and suddenly uber-violent raves seemed slow to develop and evolve, and the issue was compounded by a vampire drug plot thread that seemed cliched and unoriginal.

And maybe it's just me, but I reread the first three books in the series over the past few days in preparation for this fourth book, and it seems to me that there's a tendency towards repetitive themes. Celina is always some sort of threat, for example, and Ethan/Merit have been blackmailed into solving a mystery twice in just four books. I didn't notice it when I first read the series, probably because of the length of time between installments, but back-to-back reading doesn't do the series any favors in this regard.

Oh, and for the record, I have some significant problems with the ending of this book beyond the obvious. In fact, and without providing spoilers (which, admittedly, is limiting), I question the plausibility of the timing of the sequence of events given several of the participating characters, have a problem with what seemed like character inconsistency in more than one character, and have no clue why, given what I know of one character in particular, the words, "absolutely not" weren't first out of the gate. Because of those nagging issues and legitimate questions, as vague as they all are, the ending wasn't as successful (relatively speaking) as it might have been.

On a brighter note, there are definitely some significant changes in the air for the series, and as a reader, I truly appreciated getting some long-time questions answered - however reprehensible those answers were - and seeing some very satisfactory resolutions to long term problems. In that way, Hard Bitten is the single most pivotal book in the series and it offered up virtually limitless opportunity for new and exciting series developments or direction. It's going to be a long wait until November, for sure, but when it comes, I'll be there ready and waiting for my next Chicagoland Vampires fix.

Another Note: For those who have written reviews or posted public comments that have contained major spoilers about the events in this book, please consider removing them or editing them for content (by including spoiler alerts or segregating spoilers with preceding warnings). The purpose of a review is to actually review the work, not rejoice/commiserate with the masses on content details. There are other forums for that. Find them. Use them. Don't ruin the story for those who try to be conscientious about not being spoiled. It's rude.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 3
Rating: 5 Stars
Formats: Paperback, Kindle


There are a plethora of kick-ass urban fantasy series with kick-ass heroines out there today. The genre is rockin' and sockin' like a frat house on a weekend bender after a football championship win. Every author has created a slightly different world, with slightly different mythos, slightly different characters, etc...the emphasis on slightly. That's not a criticism; it's more like a statistical probability. I believe the key is finding those authors and series that present a world or mythos or characters that appeal to your personal tastes. As urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and I have a very eclectic palate for it, I read a lot of UF series. Some set themselves apart, some don't. Few make it to my "Oh my god...new release?? Get it! Get it! Get it NOW!!" category.

Chloe Neill is, in my opinion, utterly unique in that she's created a series that, arguably, isn't the most original in location (the awesome city of Chicago) or in world building (vampires have come out of the coff...er...closet to humans and are working a wicked PR campaign to keep themselves from being turned into crispy critters and other supernaturals are eying them intently, concerned about the potential power shift and threat), or, honestly, in mythos (not really sure what the vampires' origins are, but they've had their fair share of genocidal cleansings that sound quite a lot like witch trials of old and of the inquisition), yet Neill has managed to catapult herself and her series into that category I mentioned. Yes, I actually have an "Oh my god...new release?? Get it! Get it! Get it NOW!!" category. I never said I was well balanced. Moving on...

What Chloe Neill has managed to create that is unique and appealing, is Merit, Sentinel of Cadogan House and kick-ass heroine of a kick-ass series. Bright, independent, stubborn, maturing Merit is one of my favorite UF heroines in any and every series I'm reading or have read. I absolutely love her. She's a novitiate vampire, new to the world and the House, and she's been forced into positions as both political pawn and weapon for her liege and master Ethan Sullivan, yet she remains relatively poised and strong willed as she grows within her House and her position as Sentinel. I am completely appreciative of a heroine that I can relate to and admire and, frankly, not want to strangle...because there are so many other UF heroines that I'd like to take a two-by-four to for so very many reasons, even when I like the series they're in (annnnd we're right back to the unbalanced issue...moving on). The Chicacoland Vampires series is told from Merit's perspective in a smooth, contemporary, first person narrative that is at turns humorous, griping, and caustic with sharp wit. Twice Bitten: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel in particular shines with zippy dialogue and internal monologues, and Merit is almost solely responsible for that fantastic aspect of the book.

In Twice Bitten, which picks up mere days from the events of the second book in the series, Friday Night Bites: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel, and just a few months from the first, Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel, Merit is still dealing with the potential threat of Celina Desaulniers, former Navarre House Master and total power hungry wingnut, still training with Ethan, and still exceptionally drawn to him. The fireworks between them are incendiary and in this book, extra...fireworky...um, yeah. So anyway, the shapeshifters are on their way to Chicago for a convocation concerning their next move as a species and the Apex of NAC pack, Gabriel, is tentatively willing to extend a paw to Cadogan House and Ethan and Merit in particular. The foresight-gifted shifter has seen a future that includes pack and House affiliations he's not too specific about, but one that features Merit heavily. Ethan is practically salivating for the opportunity of an alliance because...well, because he's a politics junkie, for one, but he's also very aware that a war is brewing and the only hope of survival of both species against a planet of humanity may be joining forces with a past nemesis. Unfortunately, not all of the pack agrees with its progressive thinking Apex, and soon politics turns to bloodshed and death and assassination attempts. Will any tentative hope for an alliance go up in flames or will two races at odds be able to unite against a common threat? The cost for misstep will be paid in blood.

The political and sociological structures of shifters and vampires are brilliantly written here, and while the plot is both less an more than most end-of-the-world-or-some-other-similar-catastrophe UF series, it's fascinating and poignant, and there's a lesson to be learned about the crippling nature of bigotry and prejudice. This book (and series) is far more subtly written than others in the genre, allowing for some truly fantastic character development for a larger contingent of characters than most UF books. Through Merit's eyes we see how similar to humans in some ways, and how spectacular in others, vampires are as we get a deeper and broader view of the people and personalities that make up CadoganCadogan vampires in a more relaxed and natural setting, allowing a more intimate relationship with them as people, and I very much enjoyed that. I've grown quite fond of Lindsey and Luc and the rest of Merit's growing circle of friends.

I did have a few moments where I got a bit troubled with the plot, though. I can't say I totally bought into the motivations and actions of the players surrounding the main conflict and climax of the story. It seemed a little too neat and perhaps a bit cliched. Admittedly, I was more frustrated because the rest of the book had made a lot of excellent strides in laying groundwork for a positively Machiavellian development...though, I suppose I could be looking at it from a more vampiric perspective. That race does sort of epitomize Machiavellian. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were also moments in the book that I felt attained a sort of sublime truthfulness, most notably with Merit and the guy in the library. There was a scene that pointed out in unapologetic detail that for some, atrocity isn't history - it's memory, and should be respected as such. Humans surely aren't immortal, but atrocity isn't limited to history, either, and the message was a poignant one that struck a chord with me.

As much as I hate to be one of those readers who clamors for more from a favored author, with pleas to write faster or produce more quickly, I have to admit, I'm less than thrilled that Neill is currently writing two books a year and one of them is for her Dark Elite series (Firespell (Dark Elite, Book 1)). Very unfortunately, that means no more Merit for another year. That's more than a little disappointing. Still, I have to say, Merit...and the Chicagoland Vampires series...is worth the wait.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2
Rating: 5 Stars
Formats: Paperback, Kindle


Some Girls Bite is on my list of surprise gems in 2009 as a unique urban fantasy with a heroine I could really root for and a complex and intriguing world that deals not with world-ending cataclysms but the sometimes deadlier vampire politics and machinations. It was a lesson in the delicacy of balancing a history of vampires that include a feudal-style house structure with characters who have closer ties to frat houses than feudal houses. It was taut, cleverly paced, and while I maintain it was a wee bit slow to start, it was ultimately satisfying.

Friday Night Bites is better.

I like Merit. A lot. She's not an ass-kicking, leather-wearing, gun-toting female warrior (not that there's anything wrong with guns, leather, and ass kicking, but Merit's a nice change); she's a flawed, slightly neurotic, highly educated and intelligent former debutante turned scholastic book worm...and a katana-toting female warrior-in-training whose benefits as Sentinel of Cadogen House include access to Chicago's muckety-mucks for house master and liege Ethan Sullivan and an unerring ability to sniff out complex plots made by sociopathic megalomaniac vampire villainess Celine.

And speaking of complex plots - Friday Night Bites is deliciously laden with them. Where Some Girls Bite spent time introducing you to the world, characters, and overall issues, Friday Night Bites drops you back into the world running, with conspiracies, plots, conflicting emotions and growing pains of every sort. Chloe Neill has shown herself to be particularly brilliant at realistically maturing a layered, meaty cast of characters (most notably heroine Merit), and while as a reader, some aspects of that maturing are just as painful and frustrating for me as they are for Merit (e.g. the emotional tug-of-war between Ethan and Morgan, and the secret Merit is keeping), my emotional investment into those things just serves as kudos to Neill - if it weren't written so darned well, I wouldn't care so darn much.

And I do care - a lot.

I'd put off reading Friday Night Bites after the pure enjoyment of Some Girls Bite because I was counting on a good read and I wanted to draw out the anticipation a bit as I knew a third installment wouldn't be quick in coming. With a release date of July 2010 for the third book in the series, I almost wish I'd waited longer, because it's going to be a long seven months to get a chance to tie up some devious teasers and cliff hangers. Darn it.

Excellent read, though - so much so I may just start all over again from the beginning before the next book - and I could count on one hand the number of times I've done that.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 1
Formats: Paperback, Kindle

4 Stars
More Than Your Average Vamp Urban Fantasy Novel!

Lately, the criteria for whether a new urban fantasy series sinks or swims with me has primarily been centered around the main character, with supporting characters and plot of equal but secondary importance. That's mostly because there's just not all that much that can set apart the first book in a UF series when you've got vampires, were-animals, sorcerers, and fae in the world. Some Girls Bite is no exception in that regard. Vampires have come out of the closet, so to speak, and are working a wicked PR campaign to keep the human population from turning into the next incarnation of the Spanish Inquisition. The main character is attacked and turned without being given a choice (that's actually an important distinction from "against her will," though). Much angst and adjustment abound. That's a VERY surface summary, but on that surface, it's just not that new a premise.

If you go no further and decide not to read Some Girls Bite based on the surface appearance of "just another vamp urban fantasy," you're going to be doing yourself a disservice, because this book and the main character, Merit (it's her last name and she's sort of touchy about her first one - to the point of not letting us know what it is), develops all sorts of layers below the surface. She does go through her fair share of recriminations and angst, but from the first page of the book, you know it's not going to last, and by the last page it seems to be over, so I'm okay with it. It seemed natural instead of mind-numbingly repetitive, as with so many other "woe is me, I'm a kick-ass heroine and still bemoan my very existence" heroines. You know the ones I mean.

Where Some Girls Bite sets itself apart is in the development of the many layers of supernatural life you just truly start to get a glimpse of in this debut. Vampires aren't your typical...well...actually, they aren't your typical anything, and I wouldn't call them undead if I were you - more like "Otherwise Alive." Their internal political and social structure is a rather amusing (when it's not disturbing in its antiquity) blend of a collegiate Frat Row and feudal England. As diametrically opposed as those two things may be, it actually works in this book and I thought it was sort of a nifty new take on an old standard. You don't get much of a glimpse of the other supernaturals in this world, but there's enough to interest you with the teasers and the allusions to their importance, particularly the order of sorcerers that the dark and delicious Catcher had belonged to and is preparing blue-haired, ad design maven, best friend Mallory for.

And I really really liked Merit. She has moments of brainlessness (well...okay...days of them, actually - but getting changed apparently isn't the easiest thing), and that usually turns me off a main character, but she acknowledges those with her best friend, and given her education, her independence despite monied, emotionally distant, social-climbing parents, and how she ends up pulling things together towards the end of the book, you know she's never going to be one of those TSTL protagonists.

The secondary characters are fun and dangerous at turns, but utterly believable and delightfully real, and I liked and appreciated the time taken to flesh them out and give them more than two dimensions. And Ethan's just an absolutely fantastic anachronistic delight - driven by the weight of historic responsibility yet intensely interested in Merit, the antithesis of everything and everyone he's ever known. Their scenes together are searing tugs-of-war that thrill and amuse and titillate.

I did think that the beginning started out slow (pre-commencement), and there were a few times when Merit did annoy me a bit more than I would've liked, hence the four stars, but what truly impresses me is the exceptional potential that this book gives to the upcoming series. I recommend this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next installment, Friday Night Bites: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel.