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"A strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake." (Library Journal)
Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...
Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. 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 both the vampires and humans.
evanescenceSE
Posted October 28, 2011
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Chloe Neill is a fantastic writer. I love each of her books and can't wait to read more.
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Pdiddles
Posted November 3, 2011
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I've read the four books that came before this one, and like most of you I was heart broken when you know who was killed. I cried, sure, just like alot of you. I really, really didn't want to read this installment, and I was convinced that I wouldn't. Before the book was published, the author told us to 'trust her' and I decided to give it a chance, thinking I would put it down. Well, I just finished it, and I would encourage you, if you're on the fence to read it. Most of it is emotionally jerking, but it all comes together in the end. I'll say this: Your heart will swell with relief.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The vampires residing in Cadogan House are going through a rough time from without and within. Externally the mayor believes vampires are an abomination that should be ethically and ethnically cleansed from the planet. Internally, the Order has dispatched FranK Cabot of Cabot House to judge them based on whether the Cadogan clan is changing the rules.
Merit knows her performance as the Cadogan Sentinel is poor as she cannot focus on her duties since she lost the love of her life Ethan the Master of the house. One night the lakes and rivers turn black. The politicians led by the mayor blame the vampires which angers the suspicious humans. Merit discusses the crisis with the Dryads and the Siren; each insists they had nothing to do with the mess. When Lake Michigan and the other waters turn black again, the night sky turns red. The Queen of the Fairies informs Merit that an elemental magic practitioner is causing the environmental crisis. Merit knows time is running out on her investigation as the state wants the paranormal registered as documented aliens with no inalienable rights at the same time humans demand vigilante mob justice.
Urban fantasy fans will enjoy the latest fascinating Chicagoland Vampires thriller (see Twice Bitten). Using recent immigration furor as a theme, Chloe Neil provides an insightful exciting look at de facto and de jure prejudice even though most of the paranormal want either to be left alone in peace or to help mankind who despises them. Keeping the entertaining story line focused, Merit proves her fortitude as she still reels over Ethan, but pulls herself together accepting the threat to the existence of vampires and humans is tangible and she need to fix it..
Harriet Klausner
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jacreader10
Posted August 9, 2011
This is the fifth book in the series, but I don't wish to read it. It was a great series until Ms. Neill killed off a most beloved main character in the 4th book. Now I'm just outraged.
kissed off
6 out of 33 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I was a bit skeptical about whether to give up on the series or not but I'm glad I kept reading. The last book's ending made many people upset and mad but like I said before I'm glad I kept reading, for this book made up for it and ended with a happy thought in mind.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sue_Smiles
Posted October 22, 2011
Has anyone thought of the fact that with Ethan gone Merit can now wholeheartedly throw herself behind the Red Guard without feeling as though she's betraying him? Otherwise how will the Presidium get their just desserts? Remember he was killed in the presence of an evil sorcerer, her best friend is studying necromancy and this is, after all, fantasy. Ms Neill can do whatever she wants, including bringing back a main character or bringing a new one in. She promised an HEA and I believe that will happen. Just trust her :)
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 22, 2011
There must be something up this authors sleave for she has great taste in captivating peoples attention. So lets always go into the next book with an open mind and heart. Let the story be cook to perfection and see what is waiting around the corner.
4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 7, 2012
I have read all the Chicagoland books. They have never failed to be page turners. I bought this book two weeks ago and just opened it today. I read it in one day. I put it off since in the last book Ethan died and I really liked him. This book did not disappoint. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is (by far) the best book of the Chicagoland Vampires series. Chloe Neill, really packed some punch with this book. There are so many layers to the story that you just can't seem to absorb the content fast enough. Just when you think you've figured out what is going on (and who's behind it), then the rug gets yanked out from underneath you, and another layer gets added to the story.
I can't really do a full review on this book because there would be way too many spoilers. All I can say is that I can hardly wait for Book 6, Biting Cold to come out in August 2012!!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 26, 2012
Thhiis was a very suprising book from what i thought it would be compared to the fourth one but if you haven't read it yet because of any thing that happend in the 4th book dont worry its just as good u need to read it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 3, 2011
I think it will be interesting to find out what happens with ethan gone. I think malory was right. The right person is the one who wants you from the beginning, not someone who is reluctantly attracted to you. Who knows if ethan could have ever really felt enough emotion to be with Merit the way she needed. What about the guy who is head of the guard at grey house? And there is always the chance that with ethan out of the way she could build some sort of friendship with the new Navar master... if she wants to. Plus it's a whole new world for her. Who knows who is out there. Maybe she'll find a soul mate. Maybe she'll at least have a healthy short term relationship. I'm really excited to see what happens in this one. Removing ethan takes away a lot of reasons for merit not to fall in love.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anony
Posted August 28, 2011
I am so excited about this book. I was heart broken after Hard Bitten, but I need to know what is going to happen to Merit and what is up with those dreams?? I definitely think she has the power to bring Ethan back and I just can't wait for that moment to happen, whether it happens in this book or the next, I don't know, but it MUST happen. I can't wait to finally read this book.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sugrc0atdlies
Posted August 28, 2011
Ms Neill has asked that we trust her and I do. I SO can not wait for this book to see how things progress. I'll admit I wanted to throw the last book, Hard Bitten, across the room when I got to the end of the book. BUT I have faith in Chloe Neill. I am excited to see where all of this is going and I have complete faith that Chloe will make us all happy in the end.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Cant Wait!!! This Series is one of the best i have read!!Keep them coming PLS!!!
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Amber_Elise
Posted September 8, 2012
After reading the last chapter to Hard Bitten, I knew I had to get my hands on this book and read it ASAP! Neill's Drink Deep introduces new supernatural characters and answers the number one question swimming around all of our heads at the end of Hard Bitten.
Merit and the House are at a loss when they lose their House Master. And as if things couldn't get worse, Merit's best friend is acting strangely and Lake Michigan turned black (which doesn't really happen too often..). Merit has to solve the mystery of the lake before vigilante groups decide to take their "vampire problem" into their own hands.
Now if you have kept up with the Chicagoland Vampires series, you know how important this book is to the story. I am happy, that even while readers are dying to know what happened to Ethan, Neill can weave a clever and interesting mystery that will hold the reader's interest until Neill feels comfortable revealing her big secret. I loved the Lake Michigan mystery that has supernatural creatures turning against each other. Everything flowed so well, when you think a mystery is close to being solved, Neill hits you with a curve ball. I must say that the last few chapters had me holding my breath the entire time.
What made this book so sucessful is how Neill manipulates her characters, especially Mallory, Merit's best friend. Not only does Neill give her stunning cast more depth, she also introduces some very interesting characters who I hope to see in future novels. When Lake Michigan turns black, the Nymphs immediately point fingers at Lorelei, the local Siren. Lorelei lives on a beautiful island and Neill only revealed a taste of her, and I want to know more! Of course Merit is the same badass that we all know and love, but that was a given!
If you haven't read this novel yet and you are dying to know what has become of our beloved House Master, this is definitely a book that you need to read! It's full of mystery, outstanding character developments and a love story that I just can't get enough of!
Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2012
Merit couldn't stop her life as a regular vampire in Chicago. She loved a man, who loved her back, and she dreamed of him too much to keep the memories going. You must read this book, especially if you've been reading this series. Merit is an unstoppable force!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My Review:
A
*big sigh* And the series is back on track...at least on a track that I can handle emotionally. I know that we haven't seen all the repercussions yet from what's happened in this book and the last, but I have hope. Hope is a good thing. I count it as a positive that I ended this book smiling rather than bawling.
I think I set a reading record on this one, since I'm about to start reading the 3rd book from this series today....yes, you heard that correctly. I'm going to read three of these books from this series TODAY. That says TONS about how good these books are. How riveting the characters are. I'm only sad about the fact that the next book I have to read is book #6, the last one that is out and then I will be like everyone else...waiting on pins and needles waiting for the next installment to be released.
So what can I say about this book that won't contain spoilers...really nothing, but some incredibly vague statements. I do like where this series is going. What Merit is doing. The House and Chicago faced some incredible challenges in this book and that turmoil is definitely not over yet, but it's interesting where it's going. So some more vague statements here...*gah* I love Jonah and it's a possibility that I could be convinced to join his camp...in a big way. I found it interesting the way that the magic flows between him and Merit....interesting and intriguing. I want to know/explore that more. I like and approve of the decision that Merit made in this book.
I don't think that there were many questions/problems fixed in this book. It definitely set up for TONS more in the coming books though. It was really an excellent book and the speed in which I devoured it speaks more to that than anything. Off to go read book #6....
Novelsontherun
Posted July 7, 2012
I love the Chicagoland Vampires series, it is a great Urban Fantasy read. I did miss Ethan in this book. I think anybody who loves this series will tell you that a gaping hole was left behind. Even the characters in this book are feeling it, big time.
This brings me to Jonah. He is no Ethan, but he is gorgeous and you can see how much he would like a relationship more than partnership with Merit. He is a tempting morsel.
I was having a little trouble totally feeling this instalment until we got past the half way mark, maybe because of that gaping hole that Ethan left behind, maybe something else?
Oh the GP dude, Frank. (looks around for my smelliest stinky dead fish, so I can slap that boy upside of silly) Chloe REALLY makes you loathe the guy.
I would have loved to have seen Gabriel and his pack in this instalment. Obviously they weren’t necessary. I think with Ethan making it into dreams, I needed big Gabriel to call Merit, ‘kitten’. I think I was just lost without Ethan. Jonah was like this putty filler, who filled in the cracks for me. Interesting to see where Chloe takes Jonah and Merit now she has signed on the dotted line.
Chloe has given us some wonderful twists in the latter part of the book, these got me back to feeling in the zone with this series. I’m hoping more Faerie influence may become a part of this series.
Jeff is still so adorable I could pack him up and take him home. He has such a way with the little ladies..hehe!
Oh Catcher, what are we going to do with you..........?
There is a scene in this book , hence my little Blackbird lyric intro, it was quite touching. Made me swallow a lump.
I enjoyed this instalment, and am looking forward to reading ‘Biting Cold’, there are some things left in the air at the end of this book and maybe some new beginnings?
I have a pet peeve, I am not digging the UK covers at all. The girl is so not Merit. No offence, just blagh! I don’t like the poses. These books have some grit and the covers aren’t Urban Fantasy....did I just say all that out aloud...oops!
Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2012
thank GOODNESS you know who came back. now my life is all better *huge grin*
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 13, 2012
Ok - me, like most everyone else, received a hard blow at the end of Hard Bitten and I was nervous about the rest of the series. I speculated a lot on where Chloe would go after the HD.
I read this book with huge expectations. I wanted, no NEEDED, that huge 'OMG smiling from ear to ear' moment to help me recover from HD.
The book was another Chloe great, not as action packed as others, but still great. I received the 'basics' of my expectations...HOWEVER I felt that after the blow to my psyche at the end of HD the end of DD should have been monumental - or at least have made me cheer out loud. It was happy, but flat. I didn't sense the emotion from the characters, so it didn't translate well for me.
So, another good one, but ending needed a little more pizzazz.
Overview
"A strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake." (Library Journal)
Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been ...