Review for Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill

  

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker-and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.


Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her 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 her gratitude- and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood.

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Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill


Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they're enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But should people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle-the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.

So now it's up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn't want peace between them-someone with an ancient grudge...


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Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill


Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission. 

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.


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Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill


Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit--vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house--is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition-reducing drug is circulating through the community.

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I decided to read this series because someone mentioned that it was very similar to the Night Huntress series, which I absolutely adore.

Um, kinda...sorta.. maybe?


- Vampires? Check.
- Feisty heroine? Check.
- Humor? Check.
- Sexy yet dangerous hero? Check.
- Sexy vampire loving? Maybe check…let’s just say Ethan doesn’t bring the same heat into the bedroom as Bones. I’m not trying to bash Ethan or anything but Bones is VERY hard to compete with. Sorry Ethan.


Chicagoland Vampire is a very action packed series about a girl named Merit who is forced to become a vampire against her will. Along with her best friend Mallory, who ends up not being so normal herself, they both begin a crazy journey to figuring out where they fit in this new found world.


Typically, when I read a book, I tend to only focus on the main characters. With this series, I found myself, liking the background characters just as much. Merit and her friends are quite a quirky little bunch. Many times, I found myself laughing aloud at the conversations between them because they reminded so much of the things I have said to my friends. Despite the paranormal element, the characters were very realistic.


Even though this series is very much about the mystery of this new world Merit has found herself in, it also has some romance. Ethan is by far the most difficult, controlling, stubborn, condescending, and sexy hero I have read about. Literally, there were parts in this series I truly wished I could slap Ethan. Slap him and then run away that is because seriously the guy is strong...he’d like kill me or something. Merit is in by no means innocent in this scenario either. I wanted to slap her too. Nonetheless, they prove to me quite a team.


I really enjoyed this series but as a warning, book four (Hard Bitten) has quite the cliffy so be prepared. November 1 seems very far away.

I give the entire series 4.5/5 stars!




I originally posted this review in June, 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/176784549

Review for City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instrument #4) by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare


The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend. 

But nothing comes without a price. 

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other. 

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace. 

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

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I finished CoFA in record time. I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. For starts, I was nervous when I found out that Simon was going to be the main protagonist in the next three books. Simon was sort of an annoying pest (especially in City of Angels) who interfered with Clare and Jace (my ultimate preference). To be honest, when I re-read the first three Mortal Instruemtns books, I skip over his parts. Well no more! I really like Simon in this book. He seems to have matured a lot. I definitely see huge character growth from him.


I feel like City of Fallen Angels was different then the previous books. It was more dark, intense and EMOTIONAL. I had no idea what was going to happen throughout and the ending was a total cliffy. A bad cliffy.


Jace and Clary's scenes were very intense in this novel. When I say tense...I mean freaking knifes involves and craziness. I started this book thinking that I would get to see Jace and Clary playing boyfriend/girlfriend for a while before the craziness started. I knew something was going to happen to disrupt their relationship but I wasn't expecting it to start on page one.


4/5 stars!



I originally posted this review in April 2011, on http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/137006223