Review: Wicked Hour - Chloe Neill

The second pulse-pounding novel in the bestselling Heirs of Chicagoland series sees vampire Elisa Sullivan get drawn into the shifting sands of Pack politics.

As the only vampire child in existence, Elisa Sullivan grew up with a heavy legacy. Alongside shifter Connor Keene - the only son of Pack Apex Gabriel Keene - she faced down a supernatural evil that threatened to destroy Chicago forever.

After the dust has settled, Elisa is surprised when Connor invites her to a Pack event in the north woods of Minnesota, and by the warm welcome she receives from some of Connor's family, even though she's a vampire.

But the peace doesn't last. The shifters tell tales of a monster in the woods, and when the celebration is marred by death, Elisa and Connor find themselves in the middle of a struggle for control that forces Elisa to face her true self - fangs and all.

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Wicked Hour is the second book in Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland series which focuses on Merit and Ethan's daughter Elisa. As the only born vampire in existence there is a lot that Elisa doesn't know about herself and her abilities and she has nobody else to ask either so she's forging her own path. Her biggest struggle is controlling the darkness inside and it's a battle she's been fighting alone because she doesn't want to worry her parents.

The only person who knows the full extent of her trouble is Connor, her childhood frenemy and the future Pack Apex. Her relationship with Connor has changed a lot in recent months so she is surprised but pleased when he invites her to accompany him to a secret pack ceremony in Minnesota. It's a perfect opportunity for them to spend time together and decide what kind of future they might have but Elisa knows that members of the pack are unlikely to be pleased with the appearance of a vampire at a sacred werewolf ritual.

I'm always impressed with how easy Chloe Neill makes it for readers to step back into this world, I've loved the original series for such a long time now and it looks like I'm going to enjoy the spin off just as much. Elisa is a great character, she's had a pretty privileged upbringing as the pampered princess of Cadogan House but she's worked hard to gain her own independence and spent years living away from her parents. She's worked hard to train as a warrior just like her mother did but she has no plans on working for her parents as she'd rather make her own way. I find the idea of her inner monster really interesting and I'm enjoying watching her fight for control as she tries to figure out how to stop the darkness from taking over.

I really love the banter between Elisa and Connor, they've known each other for their entire lives and spent most of their childhood teasing and fighting each other. They have no secrets and often bicker like the children they once were but at the same time they're building a strong friendship now where they always have each other's backs. The slowly building romance between them has been spot on so far and I can't wait to see what the future holds for the pair of them.

This story was interesting because we got to spend more time outside of Chicago and learn more about life in a werewolf pack. The Minnesota wolves live a fairly simple life but there are definitely different factions building as the older and younger members have very different ideas about how they want the Pack's future to look. Add in the mystery of a killer monster on the loose and things get very interesting for Elisa and Connor.

This series has definitely been added to my auto-buy list and I'm already looking forward to reading more about these characters in the future.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Kicking It - Anthology

Featuring stories by SHANNON K. BUTCHER * RACHEL CAINE * LUCIENNE DIVER * CHRIS MARIE GREEN * CHRISTINA HENRY * FAITH HUNTER * CHLOE NEILL * KALAYNA PRICE * ROB THURMAN

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine has modern-day potions witches Holly and Andrew facing off against a firebrand politician who wears literally killer boots in a Texas-sized rodeo of trouble.

Boot-loving Cadogan vampire Lindsey must team up with off-again, on-again vampire partner Luc when a woman from her past is targeted by supernaturals in New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill’s all-new adventure.

And New York Times bestselling author Rob Thurman features Trixa Iktomi from her Trickster series dealing with magical vengeance and magical footwear.

Taking kick-ass urban fantasy literally, USA Today bestselling authors Kalayna Price and Faith Hunter bring together the best of the genre to once again prove when you’re fighting supernatural forces, it helps to keep your feet on the ground.

For more information about any of these authors click on their names below to visit their websites:
Rachel Caine
Shannon K Butcher
Chris Marie Green
Faith Hunter
Chloe Neill
Lucienne Diver
Christina Henry
Rob Thurman
Kalayna Price

Review:
The great thing about anthologies is that they often give you a chance to try out a whole bunch of new authors. Kicking It has some big name authors from the urban fantasy genre so although I was most excited to read Chloe Neill and Kalayna Price's stories it was great to get to try some other new-to-me series too.

I'll talk briefly about each story below but my overall opinion of this book is good. With any anthology there will always be some stories that you enjoy more than others but this collection definitely contains more hits than misses and even the ones I didn't love were well written, I just believe I'd have enjoyed them more if I was already familiar with the series they belong to.

Forked Tongues by Rachel Caine:

Holly and Andrew Series:
Death Warmed Over (Short Story in the Strange Brew anthology)
Holly's Balm (Short Story in the Hex Appeal anthology)
Forked Tongues (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)

In Forked Tongues Holly & Andy are facing off against a demon who is riling up the general public against witches. It's already led to one murder and and Holly is the demon's latest target so they need to work fast if they want their lives to get back to normal. This is the second short story that I've read about this couple and I'm really enjoying getting to know them both, I love that Holly is a resurrection witch and that Andy is someone she brought back from the dead but I really must read their first story so I can find out how they first met. I actually think it's a shame Rachel Caine hasn't written a full length book about these two because they're such interesting characters.

Stolen Goods by Shannon K Butcher:

I believe Stolen Goods is a stand alone story but it would make a great start to a series so I'd definitely read more if the author decided to expand on it. It's an action packed story starring a thief and a master craftsman who is an expert at making weapons. He has something she wants but she'll only get to keep it if she helps him pull of the heist to end all heists.

The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green:

Vampire Babylon Series:
Night Rising
Midnight Reign
Break of Dawn
Double the Bite (ebook novella, also in the First Blood anthology)
A Drop of Red
The Path of Razors
Deep in the Woods
Soul Stains (Short Story in the Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives anthology)
Raising the Darkness (ebook novella, also in the Dead for a Day anthology)
In Bad Spirits (ebook novella, also in the Strange Spirits anthology)
The Girl With No Name (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)
Shadows Til Sunrise

The Girl With No Name features a character from Chris Marie Green's Vampire Babylon series and is about someone who has completely lost her memory. Imagine waking up in a strange room with no idea how you got there, or even who you are, and then trying to figure out how you got there. While this story did make me curious enough to add the first book to my to read mountain I do think I'd have enjoyed this more if I was already familiar with the world.

The Devil's Left Boot by Faith Hunter:

Jane Yellowrock Series:
Skinwalker
Blood Cross
Mercy Blade
Raven Cursed
Golden Delicious (Short Story in the An Apple for the Creature anthology)
Death's Rival
Blood Trade
The Devil's Left Boot (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)
Black Arts
Broken Soul
Dark Heir
Shadow Rites
Cold Reign
Dark Queen
Shattered Bonds

I feel a bit ashamed to admit I've never read the Jane Yellowrock series, its one I've heard great things about and have been meaning to read forever so now that I've enjoyed two stories set in this world I don't really have any more excuses. This story focuses on twin sisters Cia and Liz, both are witches who I believe have been side characters in the main series. When they are contacted by one of the mean kids who used to bully them in school they are reluctant to help her in any way but, once they realise her mother is missing and that blood magic may have been involved in the disappearance, they feel like they have to step in. There is only a brief appearance from Jane but I like this world and I really want to spend more time in it.

High Stakes by Chloe Neill:

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

I honestly can't believe it's taken me this long to discover High Stakes, I absolutely love the Chicagoland Vampires series and really like both Luc and Lindsay so I'm not sure how I missed this story about them being published. I didn't even realise Chloe Neill had a story in this anthology until I picked it up to start reading (observant I am not LOL). Anyway, this was by far my favourite story in Kicking It, it was great to learn more about Lindsay's past before she moved to Chicago and it answered some questions about why she has always been so determined to keep Luc at arm's length. They're such a cute couple and I liked that Luc always had her back even when she tried to push him away. Their relationship seems much more solid by the end of the story but I'd still love to read at least another short story about them to learn more about Luc's background and just to spend more time with them. This was a lovely addition to the Chicagoland world.

The Parlor by Lucienne Diver:

Latter-Day Olympians Series:
Trickster Blood (Short Story)
Bad Blood
Crazy in the Blood
The Parlor (Short Story in the Kicking It Anthology)
Rise of the Blood
Battle for the Blood
Blood Hunt

I've not read anything by Lucienne Diver before but The Parlor definitely left me wanting to read more from the Latter-Day Olympians series. The story is about P.I. Tori who has been asked to run surveillance on a suspected cheating husband. It should be a pretty boring job but when the husband goes into a gambling den called The Parlor and doesn't come back out things get much more interesting. With hints of Greek mythology and ancient Gods roaming around in the current day this series ticks a lot of my boxes and I can't wait to carry on reading it.

Red Isn't Really My Color by Christina Henry:

Black Wings Series:
Black Wings
Black Night
Red Isn't Really My Color (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)
Black Howl
Black Lament
Black City
Black Heart
Black Spring

Christina Henry's Black Wings series is another one that's been on my radar for years but I haven't quite got around to reading it yet. Although I'm not familiar with this world I still enjoyed the story and I'm now even more curious about the rest of the series. The main character Madeline has been sent to track down a pair of red shoes but when you're given a mission by Lucifer you know things are going to get complicated and these aren't any ordinary shoes. I liked Madeline and this was a fun read.

Snakeskin by Rob Thurman:

Trickster Series:
Snakeskin (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)
Trick of the Light
The Grimrose Path

Snakeskin is the introduction to Rob Thurman's Trickster series and it added yet another series to my to read mountain! Main character Trixa runs a bar but also makes very good money on the side by taking on special projects for clients. I was completely hooked by this story, it totally defines the phrase "be careful what you wish for" and I loved the way Trixa went about granting her latest client's request. Sometimes the bad guys really do get what they deserve!

Ruby Red by Kalayna Price:

Alex Craft Series:
Grave Witch
Grave Dance
Ruby Red (Short Story in the Kicking It anthology)
Grave Memory
Grave Visions
Grave Ransom
Grave Destiny

The main reason I actually picked up this anthology is because I'm currently rereading the first few Alex Craft books so that I can finally catch up with the latest releases. Ruby Red introduces us to new characters Briar and Derrick, both members of the MCIB, Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau. They were supposed to be on vacation but get called back into work thanks to the outbreak of a mysterious magical virus. These characters haven't been in the first two books in the Alex Craft series but I believe they have a role to play in the third book Grave Memory (it's been a long time since I first read that book so I really can't remember now!). I liked them both so hope that they'll become series regulars and that we'll see a lot more of them in the future.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Wild Hunger - Chloe Neill

When a grizzly murder threatens to change the paranormal balance of power-and bring an end to years of peace between humans and supernaturals-a new generation must fight for Chicago.

As the only vampire child ever born, some believed Elisa Sullivan had all the luck. But the magic that helped bring her into the world left her with a dark secret. Shifter Connor Keene, the only son of North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, is the only one she trusts with it. But she's a vampire and the daughter of a Master and a Sentinel, and he's prince of the Pack and its future king.

When the assassination of an ambassador brings old feuds to the fore again, Elisa and Connor must choose between love and family, between honor and obligation, before Chicago disappears forever.

Return to Chicagoland. Meet the family . . .

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Wild Hunger is the first book in Chloe Neill's new Heirs of Chicagoland series, a spin off from her popular Chicagoland Vampires books but set 20 years in the future and staring the next generation. While I do think you could start here if you've not read the previous books you will pick up spoilers for the original series and since I love the books so much I'd definitely recommend starting at the beginning and working up to the spin off.

This story is narrated by Elisa Sullivan, daughter of Merit and Ethan, and the only ever born vampire so Elisa's life has always been watched closely by the vampires of Chicago. As much as she loves her family she has spent the last 4 years living in Paris to get away from the spotlight and the only reason she is returning to Chicago now is to help run security for peace talks between the European vampires that Cadogan and the other Chicago vampires are hosting. Elisa is keeping big secrets from her parents about the magic she was born with and how much she struggles to control it. The only person who knows her secret is her childhood nemesis Connor (wolf shifter and son of Gabriel Keene, Apex of the North American Central Pack) and that's only because he's seen first hand the damage she can do if she loses control. When an assassination threatens to bring the peace talks crashing down it is up to Elisa and Connor to figure out what is really going on but they're going to have to put aside their childhood animosity to do it.

I love it when authors put a fresh spin on much loved series so I was really looking forward to this spin off and it was just as much fun as I hoped it would be. It was nice being able to dive back into a familiar world and see a few of the old faces but it was also great to get to know the next generation and see the story go in a new direction. Elisa was great, it was a little frustrating that she wouldn't ask for help with her magic but I could understand her desire to stand on her own two feet and I liked her independent streak. She has a pretty good relationship with her parents but I was glad that they didn't have a huge role to play because this should be Elisa's story not a continuation of Merit's. Connor was a fun character too and I enjoyed the way they teased each other constantly, they grew up together and at times they still bicker like the children they once were but you can tell there's a nice amount of chemistry bubbling along under the surface so I've got high hopes on the romance front.

Alongside Elisa and Connor we also get to meet Mallory and Catcher's daughter Lulu and I loved the friendship between her and Elisa. Lulu is afraid of becoming addicted to dark magic like her mother did so she's refusing to use her powers at all and instead focuses on her art but she still steps up to help when Elisa needs her. There are plenty of other characters introduced, particularly from the NAC Pack, who I think will have a larger role as the series continues and I'm also very curious to find out whether we'll see more of the vampire house that Elisa had been living with in France.

Wild Hunger was a great start to the series and I'll be preordering the next book just like I did with the original series.

Source: Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Slaying It - Chloe Neill

Merit, the Sentinel of Chicago's Cadogan House, is pregnant. She's ready to meet her daughter, but also excited to see her feet again. While out on an evening walk, Merit stops to help a man in need, only to find herself the victim of a kidnapping attempt. Someone with a serious debt to some very serious people thinks Cadogan House will pay a rich reward for Merit's return.

Jonah, the handsome captain of Grey House's guards, is on his way to a meeting at Cadogan--and if he's honest with himself, to drop in on Cadogan's gorgeous and brilliant chef, Margot--when he stumbles on the aftermath of the attack. He'll stop at nothing to help the Cadogan vampires, including Margot, face down the threat.

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Slaying It is a bridge novella that gives us a nice additional epilogue to the Chicagoland Vampires series and introduces us to the youngsters that are going to be picking up the reigns in the new Heirs of Chicagoland series.

I love Merit and Ethan so of course I'm always happy to have a chance to catch up with them, especially when she's eight months pregnant and ready to pop. We also get to see how all of our favourite side characters are doing and alongside some action when someone attempts to kidnap Merit we also get a really sweet look into the developing romance between Jonah and Margot.

This story was just what I needed and it definitely left me excited to spend time with the next generation in Wild Hunger! I'm glad we don't have to say goodbye to this world and I'm excited to see what direction the new spin off will take us in.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Blade Bound - Chloe Neill

The thrilling final installment of Chloe Neill’s New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series sees a sinister sorcery advancing across Chicago, and it may usher in the fall of Cadogan House…

Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation to vampire, Merit’s stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House. She's saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side.

When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire seemingly under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have ever imagined. As a malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It’s her last chance to save everything—and everyone—she loves.

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Its always a sad thing when a series you love comes to an end so Blade Bound is one of those bittersweet books that you almost don't want to read because once its over it's really OVER. I've been a fan of the Chicagoland Vampires for so many years now and I've loved every minute of it. Merit is such a brilliant character and I love her relationship with Ethan. They've learnt a lot both as individuals and as a couple and they've faced all kinds of dangers along the way. I guess it's probably about time that they got to actually enjoy their happily ever after but I still wasn't ready to say goodbye to them.

If you have to leave a series behind you it's definitely best to go out when it's still on a high note though and Chloe Neill has achieved that here. I don't want to say too much about the plot but I'll give you a little hint - there might be a wedding (but only if they survive the hen and bachelor nights first!). Of course bad guys don't take time off for festivities so Merit and Ethan are still up against the clock trying to bring down the mastermind who has been the cause of so many problems over the last few books.

Blade Bound is full of action, there's plenty of the witty banter and humour that I've come to expect from this series and we get to catch up with all of our favourite characters. I'm sad that it's over but what a ride it's been & I know this is a series I'll be rereading in the future. Even better is the fact that Chloe Neill has announced a spin off series! I'm not going to say who the main characters are in this review because it would be a spoiler for anyone who hasn't read Blade Bound so you'll have to investigate yourselves for more information but I'm very excited by the direction things seem to be going. The first book in the spin off is called Wild Hunger and I believe it will be out sometime next year - it's definitely going straight to the top of my wish list the minute I find an official release date!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Phantom Kiss - Chloe Neill

In this all-new novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight Marked, Merit, Ethan, and the rest of Cadogan House crew discover that not all undead creatures are kindred spirits…

Vampires generally aren’t afraid of things that go bump in the night, but Merit and Ethan are extra jumpy after a recent attack by a dark sorcerer. So when they learn that someone is messing with graves in Chicago’s cemeteries, stealing skulls and snatching souls, they fear that their powerful foe might be back for even more magical vengeance.

But after a specter begins haunting Cadogan House—and targeting vampires—they realize that they're being taunted by an altogether different sort of monster. A ghoulish villain straight out of the Windy City’s urban legends is on the prowl—and he won’t stop until he’s killed again...

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
As a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series I love it when Chloe Neill writes these novellas to help tide us over until the next full length book releases. Phantom Kiss was a great way to slip back into this world and it definitely left me more eager than ever for the April release of Blade Bound.

Merit and Ethan's evening starts with a wedding shower organised by Merit's mother and sister and ends with a trip to a cemetery to investigate a freshly disturbed grave. Frankly I'm not sure which of the two events is more terrifying but the fallout for the open grave has far more serious consequences. I don't think we've seen much ghostly action throughout the series so that was a nice change of pace and I thought it was hilarious to see how the Cadogan vampires reacted to the idea that the house may be haunted.

As always I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Merit and Ethan working together and we get to see all our favourite familiar faces like Mallory, Catcher, Jeff and Merit's Grandfather. We also get to spend more time with local necromancer Annabelle which was great, I really like her character and hope we'll see more of her in the final book.

I'm so sad that this series is coming to an end but I have very high hopes for Blade Bound and can't wait to see Merit and Ethan get their happily ever after.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Midnight Marked - Chloe Neill

A vampire's grudges don't stay dead long . . .

Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire.

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death - and winning might mean sacrificing everything . . .

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
I'm such a fangirl when it comes to this series, Merit is awesome, Ethan was chained in my book boyfriend harem years ago and I absolutely love all the side characters we've met along the way. It's kind of amazing to think that all of the events of the last 12 books have been crammed into one, very action packed, year of Merit's life. That's right, she's just now getting to celebrate one year of being a vampire and you can trust Ethan has big plans for her!

Merit and Ethan have both come such a long way since we first met them. Merit has come into her own since she was turned, she is now a fierce warrior and she's really come to care for Cadogan House and all of the vampires who are now part of her extended family. I wouldn't say Ethan has mellowed because that guy is still as alpha as it gets but he has learned to trust Merit and he's even able to admit when he's in the wrong which is quite an achievement really considering the unapologetic arse he could be at the beginning of the series! As a couple they still have their ups and downs and when they're arguing the whole world knows it but they no longer walk away when things get tough, instead they hash things out like rational adults and they're both secure enough in their relationship to know that they'll be able to deal with any problems that are thrown at them. I'm enjoying seeing this more mature side to them but I'm hoping we don't see them become too settled - I like a bit of spice just to keep things interesting!

In Dark Debt we finally found out who the mastermind behind a lot of their recent troubles is but knowing it and proving it are two very different things and they're a long way from having any evidence against them. I'm sure you didn't expect the mastermind to sit back and wait for them to come to him though and he's definitely bringing his A game in this instalment. In fact, if Merit and the others aren't able to stop him it'll have dire consequences for the whole of Chicago.

Merit and Ethan have worked hard to build up a working relationship with the Gabriel and the NAC Pack and that is all threatened when a vampire murders a shifter and they're the first on hand to find the body. Some of the shifters have just been looking for an excuse to start a war and now they're all on very dangerous territory if Merit can't prove they had nothing to do with the death. As the bodies start to pile up and old enemies come crawling out of the woodwork our favourite characters are all really up against it in Midnight Marked.

I don't want to say too much more about the plot but this series continues to be one of my favourites and I'm loving the direction things are taking. We get some really interesting developments in their fight to save Chicago and some completely swoon worthy moments between Merit and Ethan so I'm very happy with the way things turned out here and I'm already looking forward to the next instalment.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Lucky Break - Chloe Neill

In this thrilling new novella from New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill, vampire Merit bites off more than she bargained for when she takes a trip to a secluded Colorado town filled with feuding supernaturals . . .

Merit and Ethan are in desperate need of some alone time, far from the worries of Cadogan House, but trouble tends to follow wherever they go. Their attempt at a romantic getaway is quickly interrupted when one of Ethan's vampire friends shows up at their door - covered in blood and accused of killing her shifter husband.

Merit and her Master soon discover their vacation spot is far less idyllic than it appears. A centuries old quarrel between local vampires and shifters has made the town a perpetual supernatural battle zone, and this fresh blood has stirred the already volatile mix. Now, Merit and Ethan must put their passion on pause to figure out who's really responsible for the murder before all hell break loose . . .

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Merit and Ethan are taking a well earned vacation, somewhere quiet where they can have a few days spending quality time as a couple. Well, that was the idea anyway, but we all know that trouble tends to follow them so it shouldn't surprise anyone that before their first night is over they find themselves caught in a centuries old feud between the local vampires and shapeshifters!

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a Chicagoland Vampires fan girl so of course I couldn't wait to dive into this novella and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Merit and Ethan. It was great to see them outside of Chicago in an unfamiliar environment but still kicking butt as we'd expect. There are also appearances from Gabriel and Damien which is always a huge bonus in my books, I LOVE the shapeshifters and am still desperately hoping that Chloe will give us a spin of story about Damien at some point.

I loved Lucky Break, the mystery behind the ongoing feud was interesting, I enjoyed seeing Merit stand up for herself and her man and as usual I loved the banter between her and Ethan. I think my only complaint with this story was that it was a novella and I wanted it to be a full length book but that's just because I'm greedy and I can never get enough of this world or these characters.

Although this story doesn't impact the ongoing series story arc I would happily recommend it to fans of the series & it's a great way to get a Merit fix while you wait for the next full length book.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Dark Debt - Chloe Neill

UK Cover

A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan’s dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don’t know whether he’s friend or foe. But they’ll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs . . .

The connections to Chicago’s Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last . . .

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
**Please be aware that although this review will be spoiler free for Dark Debt it will include spoilers for previous books so if you haven't read Blood Games yet I would suggest that you don't continue reading**

I'm a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series and after the game changing events at the end of Blood Games I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Dark Debt to find out what happens next! I was expecting the plot of this story to revolve around the dissolution of the GP and the newly established Assembly of American Masters but although that does play a role the main part of the story is something that has a much bigger impact on the three Chicago houses. It's difficult because there are so many things that I want to talk about but at the same time I would hate to give spoilers so I'm going to keep this review deliberately vague in regards to the plot. What I will say is that there is plenty of mystery and we are introduced to a surprising new enemy who I think will be keeping the team on their toes for quite a while to come.

Merit and Ethan's relationship has been through the wringer but just when they get to a fairly good place an old face from Ethan's past shows up and threatens to ruin everything. This vampire is old and extremely powerful, likely stronger and faster than Ethan even, so for once he finds it it impossible to keep Merit safe. She is in the firing line and more vulnerable than we have ever seen her and it leaves her shaken and unsure of herself. As much as I love Merit because she's usually so kick ass it was interesting to see her in such a difficult situation, she suddenly finds herself no longer immune to vampire glamour and unsafe even when she's inside Cadogan house which is utterly terrifying for her. You should already know that Merit doesn't let anything hold her back for long though and as scared as she is her love for Ethan and her determination not to be his weakness soon have her fighting back harder than ever.

It isn't only vampires who are causing them trouble though and they are actually at greater risk from a human mafia like group who have managed to get their claws into Navarre House. I think anyone who reads the series will probably agree with me that Morgan has been a bit of an idiot since the beginning. His attitude has annoyed me on more than one occasion and I haven't been a fan of his for a long time now so I was surprised to find myself feeling more than a little sorry for him here. His house is in a mess and although he didn't create the situation he certainly hasn't helped it but now he finally has the opportunity to turn things around and it looks like we might be about to see him man up for a change. I'll be really interested to see if this continues over the next few books and if it does Cadogan might just find they have a new ally in Navarre. I expect Morgan has a fight on his hands though so it might not be as smooth has he hopes.

There is a lot going on in Dark Debt, there are plenty of plot twists and the amount of action is just right - enough to keep you gripped to the pages and not wanting to put the book down but still leaving room for the series trademark humour and for the brilliant characters to shine. Mallory and Catcher get a lot of page time and they were adorable, they actually made my heart melt a little! We even get to see a very surprising side to Merit's father, we all know what a terrible father he has been so far but perhaps this might go a little way towards making up for it. Of course Merit and Ethan are always my favourites, I just love seeing them together and their banter never fails to make me smile. As usual they have difficult battles to face here but this time they don't let it pull them apart and it just makes them a stronger couple than ever. I love this whole series but I think Dark Debt is probably one my favourite books so far and I just can't wait to see what happens next, we have definitely been given a hint of things to come too and, trust me, it's going to be a wild ride. I just wish I didn't have to wait for the next book to be published!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

US Cover

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Review: Blood Games - Chloe Neill

While Merit didn't choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and it's Master, and she's managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet . . .

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn't been able to track down the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren't on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
There is a serial killer on the hunt in Chicago and since all clues point to the murderer being a supernatural creature it is up to Merit and the Ombuddies to help the CPD figure out exactly what is going on. Quite frankly Merit is just relieved to have something to take her mind off the fact that Ethan has challenged Darius to become the new head of the GP. There are only a small number of possible outcomes to the challenge and Merit isn't sure if she's prepared for any of them!

I have to admit to having mixed feelings when Ethan challenged Darius, I was intrigued by the idea because it has the potential to open up all kinds of possibilities for the future of the series but at the same time I was a little nervous that it would mean that this story in particular could potentially become quite predictable. I was pretty certain when I picked up Blood Games that I knew exactly how things would play out and where Ethan and Merit would be at the end of it. I'm happy to say I was completely wrong with my guesses though and Chloe Neill managed to side swipe me with something that I would never have considered - I just love it when an author can do that to me! Things are certainly getting interesting and I can't wait to see what happens in the next few books.

Merit and Ethan are both under a lot of strain in this book and it does seem for a while like they've taken two steps backward in their relationship which was a little disappointing but even though Ethan tries to keep Merit at arm's length I loved seeing her so determined to break through his barriers. Before we've seen her turn tale and run when things get hard so it was great to see her fighting for what she wants but I'm going to admit to wanting to smack Ethan around the head a couple of times and tell him to stop being such an idiot. He does have some incredibly sweet moments too though so I forgave him fairly quickly. When they are on the same page their relationship is one of my favourite to read about and to be honest I still love them when they're arguing, they're just so well suited to each other and I enjoy the way Merit brings out Ethan's more playful side.

One character that really gets a chance to shine here is Mallory, she has come a long way towards redeeming herself over the last few books but it was here when I really felt her friendship with Merit starts to properly get back on track. I loved that they finally had a real conversation about what had happened in the past and how they both wanted to move forward in the future and I was pleased that Chloe Neill took the time to add that to the storyline. I also really, REALLY loved the section where Merit and Jonah visit the convention, it was absolutely hilarious and I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! (Surely I can't be the only one who wanted her to buy the Ethan underwear just so we could see his reaction when he first saw her wearing them? That scene would be PRICELESS!).

Blood Games is a fab instalment and I think it's been a real game changer so I don't really have any idea what to expect from Dark Debt but I do know it's a book I'm desperate for and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Wild Things - Chloe Neill

Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and became 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.

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 friend's are caught in the crosshairs. 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.

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
They may have a temporary reprieve from the GP but Merit and her friends are facing a terrifying new enemy, one with a huge amount of power who is capable of wielding an old kind of magic that they don't know how to counter. This new enemy seems to be targeting different supernatural groups starting with the North American Central Pack shapeshifters but who knows where they'll strike next. Merit, Ethan, Mallory and Catcher are visiting the Pack when the attack comes and quickly come under suspicion from some of the pack members so they agree to investigate to prove their innocence. It's not long before they realise they might be in over their heads though and they've stumbled upon a much deeper plot than they could have imagined.

I'm such a huge fan of this series and I devour each of the books within a day because I never want to put them down. It is always so easy to dive back into the Chicagoland Vampires world that even if I've taken a fairly long break between books I never seem to have trouble picking up where I left off without feeling even slightly confused. It's great to see how far Merit has come in such a short period of time, she has really grown in confidence and has become an incredibly skilled fighter who thinks nothing of putting her life on the line to protect the people she cares about. She's finally in a good place when it comes to her relationship with Ethan too, they've had a rocky road but they've come through the other side stronger than ever (although I have to say I think they're going to have a few new challenges ahead considering some of the things that happen towards the end of this story). I am desperate to know more about Gabe's prophecy too as I think that will add a really interesting element to the story.

One of the things I love so much about this series is the fantastic side characters, there are so many that I enjoy spending time with and we get to see a lot more of Jeff, Mallory, Catcher and even Merit's Grandfather in this instalment. We're also introduced to a couple of great new shapeshifters Damien and Emma who I am really hoping we'll see a lot more of in future books (can we please, please have a novella that's all about them Chloe?) because they were both brilliant. Oh and as if Chicago wasn't full of enough supernatural creatures already we discover a whole new species here which was a great surprise. I love the depth of this world and the fact that even though we're now 9 books into the series we're still learning new things.

Picking up any of these books is like meeting up with old friends and I always have a smile on my face the whole time I'm reading them. There are so many things I love about these books and I was actually so caught up in this story that I've already read the next book, Blood Games (my review will be posted very soon). All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have long to wait for Dark Debt because the series really is going from strength to strength and there are a lot of interesting things happening right now!

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Howling for You - Chloe Neill

Jeff Christopher is a shapeshifter and ally of Chicago's Cadogan House of vampires - he's also a tech whiz and mostly-legal hacker. And the only protective shields he's never been able to find a way around are those of the powerful Keene Family.

For a long time, Jeff has only had eyes for the beautiful Fallon Keene. Unfortunately, she is the only sister of the lethal North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene. The intricate balances of power and politics make it all but impossible for Fallon to trust her feelings.

But fate takes a hand when the Pack's totem is stolen - threatening the Keene family's rule - and Fallon enlists Jeff's help to retrieve it before the Pack is thrown into chaos. Can she and Jeff find the totem, and restore order, before it's too late? And will Jeff finally be able to prove himself to the only person he truly loves?

Chicagoland Vampires Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
High Stakes (Novella in the Kicking It anthology)
Howling for You (Novella)
Wild Things
Blood Games
Lucky Break (Novella)
Dark Debt
Midnight Marked
Phantom Kiss (Novella)
Blade Bound
Slaying It (Novella)

Heirs of Chicagoland Series:
(Spin off set approximately 20 years on from the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series)
Wild Hunger
Wicked Hour

Visit Chloe Neill's website for more information

Review:
Fallon is the sister of Gabriel Keene and she is second in line to become Apex (leader) of the North American Central Pack. As much as she has feelings for Jeff she knows she can never act on them because there is no way a tiger shifter would be considered an acceptable mate for a potential Apex. When the Apex crown is stolen, threatening Gabriel's hold over the pack, Fallon and Jeff have to work together to try find the culprit before anyone else realises what has happened. Can Jeff use the time they're forced to spend together to convince Fallon that he is worth taking a risk on?

I have loved Jeff since the beginning of the series so I was excited to find out that Chloe Neill had written this novella starring him and couldn't wait to read it. We've met Fallon in previous books but she wasn't a character I was particularly invested in so I have to admit I was surprised to find out that the story was written from her POV. I'd been hoping for Jeff's POV since he's such a fun character and I'm going to admit it was a bit disappointing to have someone else narrating the story.

While this novella was a fast read I have to say it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Firstly I was disappointed to find that the story finishes at 58% on the kindle version so rather than the 102 pages I was expecting you actually get less than 60 so it's over very quickly (the rest of the ebook is sample chapters from other books in the series). On top of that the story didn't have the humour that I expected knowing Jeff was a main character, his personality has always shone in previous books but it felt lacking somehow in this novella. It wasn't until the last few pages that I finally thought we were seeing the Jeff we know and love so you can imagine how shocked I was when the novella abruptly ended at that point.

I'm not going to say I hated this novella but I don't think it was worth the money I paid for it and I was left feeling disappointed. I still love this series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book but I'm sad about this story because I think it could have been so much better.

For anyone who has already read Howling For You you might be interested to know that you can read a deleted scene told in Jeff's POV on Chloe Neill's website HERE.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle: