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Showing posts with label Chloe Neill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chloe Neill. Show all posts
Monday, February 4, 2013
Guest Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill
Please welcome Wendy, who brings you today’s Guest Review of...
House Rules
Author: Chloe Neill
Release Date: Feb. 5, 2013
Publisher: NAL
Chicagoland Vampires #7
ISBN: #978-0451237101
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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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.
What Wendy is talking about:
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As usual, there's a lot on our girl Merit's plate. We have a vampire serial killer on the loose at the same time Cadogan House prepares for the dissolution of its relationship with the Greenwich Presidium. Ethan's ex-girlfriend and Master vampire, Lacey, is in town, stirring up trouble between Merit and Ethan. Oh, and it's time for Merit decide whether or not to commit to the Red Guard.
I LOVE the direction that Merit and Ethan’s romance takes… They’re becoming a solid couple, able to handle issues, even big ones, without freaking out and breaking up. I like for my UF books to have a strong female protagonist and a male partner who believes in her and backs her up, no matter what and this is finally what we’re getting from this series.
Interestingly enough, much like its Master and Sentinel, Cadogan House seems to have found its footing. The GP presents a major challenge to the House, using trickery to lure away their Fairy Security and to attempt to pull their assets (including the actual house ) right out from under them. Ethan leads them as a team to work together to save their collective asses. (And besides, who wants to see poor, homeless vampires? It takes away a little of the mystique and glamour.)
This is the first of these books in a long time that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I feel like the series has finally settled down and found its groove. There was a much better balance in this book between romance and mystery, suspense and humor. Merit and Ethan just keep getting stronger as a couple. There's enough conflict between them to keep it interesting but not so much that it overwhelms the book and turns it into a vampire romance novel. (Not that I don't enjoy those too!) Can’t wait for the next one!
Wendy’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Review: Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
Please welcome Wendy, who brings you today’s Guest Review of...
Biting Cold
Author: Chloe Neill
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2012
Publisher: NAL
Chicagoland Vampires #6
ISBN: #978-0451237019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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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 nonhumans.
Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest to tail 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 artifact for himself
No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.
What Wendy is talking about:
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I have to say, this book was nothing like I expected. When Drink Deep left off it seemed like the next book had a really clear direction: 1. Ethan was alive, 2. He and Merit were going on a road trip, 3. They were going to track down and protect the Maleficium (big book of evil) and 4. Hopefully capture Merit's friend Mallory (who needs a serious "black magic" intervention). And don't get me wrong, most of those things occur but somehow all of it is wrapped up by approximately page 86! I thought we might get a little fun, maybe a little romance, but noooo.... Ethan and Merit fly (literally) back to Chicago and dive right back into a new supernatural mystery and the same political issues the books have dealt with for a while.
There are now two Seth Tate's (former evil Mayor of Chicago), one of whom is extra-evil and looking to dispense vigilante "justice" on the citizens of Chicagoland. While the vampires look for a way stop the evil twins they also have to manage the fall-out from Cadogan House's run-in with the Greenwich Presidium.
About halfway through the book, I admit, I nearly gave up. Ethan and Merit still weren't together and the book was bogged down with human and vampire politics (What will the GP do?! How will the new evil Mayor of Chicago come after Cadogan house?!). I was really starting to wonder if the over-arching stories were ever going to proceed. But... things took a turn for the better, I kept reading and was rewarded... finally!
I think fans of the series will breathe a big sigh of relief at a lot of the developments in this book. Merit has evolved into a strong character who takes care of herself and the people around her. Seeing her develop from whiny new vampire to true Sentinel of Cadogan House has been one of the pleasures of this series. In Biting Cold, Ethan finally learns to trust her skills and her instincts and it brings them together as lovers and partners. I can't wait for the next installment!
Wendy’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Review: Drink Deep
Dear Readers: Please help me welcome my friend Wendy, a big fan of the Chicagoland Vampire series. She brings you today’s review of...
Drink Deep Author: Chloe Neill
Release Date: Nov 1, 2011
Publisher: NAL
Chicagoland Vampires #5
ISBN: #978-0451234865
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
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 iself 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 low 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.
What Wendy is talking about: |
Warning: If you haven't read Book 4, Hard Bitten, then this review contains a MAJOR spoiler.
This installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series starts off in a really dark place: Ethan's dead and Cadogan House is in receivership with the Greenwich Presidium (the "GP"), blood is being rationed and junk food is off of the House menu! Everyone is grieving for Ethan, especially Merit, which is realistic but kind of gloomy.
I missed Mallory and Catcher in this book. Although a lot of the story revolves around them, Merit doesn't directly interact with them very much. All of Merit's primary partners are off of the table for most of the book and it causes the story to drag a little bit.
Although there was an embedded mystery for Merit to solve (what's wrong with Lake Michigan?!) there wasn't a lot of character development until the last 50 or so pages. Then... boom! With a major twist the whole series went sky-high and all of the major characters underwent huge life changes. I really wish the rest of the book had been as exciting as the end.
Honestly, this story felt a little bit like filler. It was like a moderately cute "transition boyfriend" that you go out with while you're waiting for "the ONE". Ms. Neill just announced that there are at least 5 more books to come in this series and I do think she has set herself up for some great storylines. I'm just ready for them to start now!
Wendy’s Rating: |
CHLOE NEILL APPEARANCE INFORMATION:
Thursday, November 3, 2011 @ 7:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
Oakview Mall
3333 Oakview Drive
Omaha, NE 68144
Meet Rachel Caine & Chloe Neill!
Sunday, November 6, 2011 @ 2:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
2100 North Snelling Ave
Roseville, MN 55113
Meet Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, and Andrea Cremer (author of the Nightshade series)!
Come to the bookstore, meet the authors, have your books signed, and participate in a raffle drawing to receive cool prizes!
BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2)
Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 3)
Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 4)
Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 5)
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Contest Winner - Hard Bitten
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the guest review of Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill. I especially want to thank my friend Wendy for writing the review and NAL/Penguin Publishing for generously donated a copy (one winner) of Hard Bitten to giveaway.Every person that commented on the review was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner was selected using random.org.
The Winner:
Amy
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I’m sending the winner a message; please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address so NAL/Penguin can send you the book! You have until Thursday May 12, 2011 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.
Thank you and Happy Reading!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Review & Giveaway: Hard Bitten
Dear Readers: Please help me welcome my friend Wendy, a big fan of the Chicagoland Vampire series. She brings you today’s review of...
Hard BittenAuthor: Chloe Neill
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: NAL Publishing
Chicagoland Vampire Series Book 4
ISBN: #978-0451233325
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): paperback (368 pgs), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals--and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.
Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society--a world full of vampires who seem to 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....
What Wendy is talking about:
I love it when I know there's a new Chloe Neill novel coming out. She writes excellent urban fantasy with plenty of action, humor and just enough romance to draw me in. Hard Bitten is the fourth novel in her Chicagoland Vampires series and I was ready for number five before I hit the last chapter!
As Sentinel of Cadogan House, Merit is a newly-made but completely bad-ass vampire who was very recently a “nerdy graduate student.” Neill has a real talent for writing very regular people into her supernatural world. Merit loves shoes and baseball, and like most girls (the girls that I know, at least) she over-indulges in chocolate when she's feeling sorry for herself. And she has a fair amount of things to be bummed about this time around. Her boss, Ethan, has changed his mind (again!) about their relationship and he's trying to win her back (after dumping her in the last novel right after they sex), but she's pretty sure she can't trust him. The head of the Greenwich Presidium, Darius, political head of the vampires, is in town and threatening to send someone to take over Cadogan House. The mayor is threatening to have Ethan arrested and there's a new vampire drug-ring in town that may have caused the deaths of three young women. Oh, and since the “weres” were outed, anti-supe sentiment is running rampant in Chicago with protestors outside the house and armed militia trying to run the vamps out of town.
Through all of this, I loved seeing “Independent” Merit. She finally seems to know how to handle herself without always having a boy tagging along on her adventures. Merit follows the leads, trusts her instincts and ta-da! the mystery is solved. Honestly, the mystery/drug ring and who is behind it is the least interesting part of the book. I read Neill for the snarky humor and the inter-personal drama.
For me, one of the keys to a series that has romance but isn't a “romance series” is how the author keeps the attraction and the sex coming, but makes it believable that everyone isn't living happily ever after. If everyone's happy and settled why do you need to read the next book? I think Neill handled her “Moonlighting” moment wonderfully. Somehow Ethan and Mercy had mind-blowing sex in the last book but they're still dancing around their relationship and their oh-so-tingly sexual attraction. According to Ethan: “You can run. You can keep running to the ends of the earth. But I won't be far behind you.” Like I said... tingly.
Without sharing any spoilers I have to tell you that the ending is shocking and a lot heavier that I'm used to in this series. In the short space of one page Merit is betrayed and left broken-hearted by her father and Ethan. The implications of this betrayal and the horrifying aftermath will reverberate in the Chicagoland world for a really long time. I hated seeing Merit almost broken but of course it left me itching for the next installment. I can't wait to sit down with Merit and next Chicagoland novel!
Wendy’s Rating:
Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
GIVEAWAY: NAL/Penguin Publishing has generously donated a copy (one winner) of Hard Bitten to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to NAL/Penguin for sponsoring the giveaway of Chloe Neill’s latest book. To enter, please leave a comment and your email at the end of today’s review. Only one entry per person. Winner is restricted to US mailing addresses, only. Contest open from May 2, 2011 until Friday May 6, 2011 at 9:00 PM EDT. One (1) winner will be selected from the comment entries using random.org.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Review: Hexbound
Hexbound
Author: Chloe Neill Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet
Dark Elite Series Book #2
ISBN: #978-0451230799
Genre: Young Adult, paranormal
Format(s): paperback (256 pgs), e-book
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
Please welcome Guest Reviewer Stacy of Stacy’s Place on Earth. She graciously agreed to read and review today’s book.
Stacy’s Summary:
In book 2 of Chloe Neill's YA Dark Elite series, we once again meet up with our young intrepid heroine, Lily Parker, and find out what she's been up to. It's only been a few weeks since she first arrived at Chicago's St. Sophia's school for girls, and in such a short time, she's become quite acclimated to her new school, her restrictive school schedule, and has even found a best friend in her colorful roommate, Scout Green. And oh yeah, she's spending time working on her newly discovered magical powers...
Patrolling the underground tunnels at night for signs of the darker forces, Lily spends these occasions with other teens who have similar abilities, like Scout, and some of the boys from the nearby boys' school, Montclare Academy, such as hottie Jason Shepherd and Jason's best friend Michael Garcia. Defending their world from the Reapers is only part of an Adept's job. They also have to master unique gifts that have just a limited shelf life in order to protect the innocent. During one night while patrolling, the gang come across a hideous group of creatures they've never seen before, and it forces them to use their powers without much preparation, but fortunately things work out and no one is seriously hurt. Yet they are now aware of a brand-new danger to the Enclave, and must figure out who and what they are dealing with before they can destroy it.
Along the way Lily and her friends encounter warring vampires, budding romance, and an enemy who may not be what he seems....
Stacy’s thoughts:
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Firespell, and was pleasantly surprised to find the young characters sharp, mature, and incredibly likable, so naturally I was pretty excited when Jen asked if I'd like to review Hexbound.
This time around however, I found the tone to be a little too "goody goody" and that was a bit frustrating when you take into consideration the circumstances these teens faced, even in just their ordinary, everyday lives. Yes there are a lot of good, decent kids out there, but even the best kid can rebel on occasion, and I wanted to see these teens really test their boundaries. Granted, I'm sure there are restrictions placed on writing a YA story, as well as the author's own personal comfort level with language, but at times the dialogue just seemed to be more immature than that of your typical teen. Not that I wanted to read a bunch of mumbling, sullen replies - their obvious intelligence and maturity in the first book was so refreshing - but it was grating at times to read some of the verbal exchanges. I'll admit it: I wanted a little more angst! I don't even think I came across a "hell" or a "damn" through the whole book, not from one person, and that to me was jarring to have such clean, safe language, especially from a group of teens. I wanted someone - Scout! - to just let loose one day with some shocking profanity. I think that would have been highly entertaining.
That being said, the story did progress rather nicely into new and exciting directions. There's the inevitable moments when even the best of friends keep secrets from each other. There are new enemies to battle, crushes to juggle amidst schoolwork and magic, people who are not what they seem at all. Lily is still not sure what to make of her parental situation, so it makes her wary of adults and putting her trust in them. She's slowly navigating through a potentially romantic situation but trying not to let it distract her from more pressing issues, like dodging the spoiled popular girls who have it in for her, working on her firespell with dubious instruction from the other side, and managing to stay under the radar of Head Mistress Foley. Just a day in the life of one magical Lily Parker.
I always find the background of the story to be fascinating, so when there are passages involving the rich history of St. Sophia's, I was all happy, whether it's based on fact or not. Creating an extensive timeline for a book using actual events or linking them to real places intrigues me greatly as well. The architecture of the old buildings and the ways that can be utilized to tell a story enhances my reading experience significantly. Ms. Neill certainly whet my appetite and engaged my desire for a much closer look at a city I dearly love.
And let there be sequels! Ms. Neill left us a lot of intriguing fodder for future books, and I'm dying of curiosity to know so many things, such as the extent of Lily's magic, the intentions of the Reapers, Lily's romantic future, the history of St. Sophia's and Head Mistress Foley's association with Adepts. I'll be interested to see how relationships develop and evolve, how characters will be tested and inevitably changed, and what other secrets Chicago has in store for our young group of heroes. Bring it on!
Stacy's Rating:
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