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Some Girls Bite
Some Girls Bite
Some Girls Bite
Audiobook11 hours

Some Girls Bite

Written by Chloe Neill

Narrated by Cynthia Holloway

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world-and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker...and this one decided that the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my 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 my gratitude-and servitude. Right.

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 24, 2010
ISBN9781400189366
Some Girls Bite

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Reviews for Some Girls Bite

Rating: 3.9295958461538465 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    You know... I really didn't think I would like this. I did. I read the series straight through until I felt like the characters were getting cardboard and forgettable and dropped it. Took a number of books for it to get there.

    Not bad.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What an excellent book 1 of the Chicago vampire series. Well it’s started with a bang, consuming me completely. I couldn’t tear myself away if I’d wanted to. Full of excellent characters that connect with each other wonderfully, they’re interesting and passionate. Friendships have easy strong relationships, the story is unpredictable. I love that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen each step of the way.

    There are different vampire houses throughout the world, with (if I remember correctly 3 in Chicago). One of the vampires from a Chicago house hates humans, loves attention and wants to be THE vampire. This vampire hates humans and has 2 killed, with one failed attempt. All to try to make it look like one of the other hoses did it, wanting to eventually go to war.

    There is much unrest in the supernatural world among different types of creatures.

    I hope that makes sense, I don’t want to give anything away and am hurrying to get to book two.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Merit is attacked one night, and a vampire saves her life by turning her. Now, instead of writing her dissertation, Merit has to deal with a whole new identity and a whole new set of problems.

    This book should totally satisfy my id. Merit and I are both grad students living in the same neighborhood, with best friends with colored hair and a penchant for Buffy. She becomes the bestest vampire ever, all the boys want her, and all the girls are either her bestest friend or are jealous and evil. Her family is super rich but they don't understaaaaand her. She runs around in a black leather bustier carrying a magical katana, for goodness sake! It really does not get much more obviously focused on wish-fullfillment than this. Perhaps if I were fifteen, I'd have been able to dive straight in. But as it was, I just could not suspend my disbelief. Merit is supposedly super smart and loves English lit, but when she's forced to drop out of UofC (no vamp can attend), she just takes it. She doesn't petition the school, doesn't meet with her advisor, doesn't continue writing her diss...She's introduced to people who lived hundreds of years ago, and is too busy cataloguing their clothes (why do all vampires wear designer labels in all-black?) to wonder if they saw a play at the original Globe, or how they feel about language shifts, or what songs or folk legends they know that have been lost to history. I just plain don't buy her as someone who cares about literature (putting aside her absurdly vague claim that her focus is on "Arthurian legends"). I don't buy her as a character. And I don't buy her surroundings, either. Merit supposedly lives in Chicago, but there's no mention of public transportation, of the terrifying potholes, of the great and cheap Thai food, elotes on every corner...The majority of people who live in Chicago are non-white (and the neighborhood Merit lives in is actually mostly Mexican and Puerto Rican), yet every single character we meet in this book is white. Every single one. I think one of the vamps might be an Asian lady (based on her "uptilted eyes"), but that's it. And naturally, no one is queer.

    And the vampires. Oh ye gods, the vampires. They live in what is basically a dorm. They even have a cafeteria. The hottest boy--er, vampire--has a crush on Merit, for no reason except that they have an instant "connection." They all speak modern English, complete with our current slang, even the ones who are over a thousand years old. They are all the most beautifulest things ever (their eye color, hair color, and clothes are described ad nauseum). They revealed themselves to the public a mere 8 months ago, but apparently this didn't shake up human society at all. The existence of supernaturals is accepted without protest or disbelief. No one seems to care. All sorts of supernatural creatures exist, from sorcerers to nymphs, but nobody *does* anything. Sometimes one vamp will pyschic message another, but that's about it. We meet nymphs of the Chicago River at one point, and they spend several pages catfighting over a boyfriend before making up over promises of pedicures. The big vamp betrayal is revealed when the evil vamp monologues for a number of pages about her Evil Plans. It's all so banal.

    This book seems to have been churned out as quickly as possible to capitalize on the paranormal romance trend. Unfortunately for Neill, her book isn't good at providing paranormal adventure or romance.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gritty independent female character who doesn't take crap from anybody, not even the handsome master vamp she's reluctantly attracted to.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is one of the beat badass supernatural book series!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm always curious to see how the new writers take a hold of the myth that are vampires and makes it their own. I'll say this much, some of what this book offers is the usual politics, back stabbing, infighting, etc, that one comes to expect from the eternally undead. Other bits, add more fun. I find it disappointing when the writer can't do just one supernatural in books like this and they HAVE to work all the others into it. Ah well.It was a bit frustrating listening to this book, in that the narrator didn't really change her voice much for the various characters. It all came out pretty much the same. So unless I was following closely, I missed who was speaking at times. This may also have to do with the text itself.And maybe it's me, but the whole romance thing... overdone in vampire novels. At least in this instance, the scene of passion was a part of moving the plot forward. It was an interesting text and I'm curious to check out the second book, if only to see where she goes with the series. But I don't hold high hopes for the series as a whole.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book! It was so good! It’s very much the first book in a series, but it has everything; humour, action, love interests, danger, and a whole lot of wow!As I said, it’s a first book in a series, and so it’s setting up the story that will continue in future books, but this doesn’t make it a bad book, there’s still enough going on in this novel to keep you interested. We learn along with Merit as she finds out about her new life, and the other supernaturals – or sups. We learn about the vampire mythology, polictics, and the structure of the lives these people live. We also find out about some of the other sups; shifters, sorcerers, nymphs. All this info is relevant to this particular story, but is the set up for the series as a whole, and it’s all so fascinating! I love this world!I love the characters in this book! You have some seriously awesome strong women to look forward to reading about. Merit, herself, who has to deal with this new life that she didn’t ask for, but also won’t take any crap. Mallory (I love that name, by the way), Merit’s best friend, has a wicked sense of humour, but is also one of the best cheerleaders I’ve read; she’s so supportive, encouraging and pushy in all the right ways, and has an awesome little subplot of her own. Then there’s Lindsey, a vampire Merit becomes friends with, also a great sense of humour, who you can just imagine having an awesome time with!Then there are the guys. Not all of these people are love interests for Merit, but I think they’re all worth mentioning. Ethan, master of Cadogan House, is not my favourite person. He may be gorgeous, but he’s got a serious attitude problem. He may be the big boss man, but I think he takes it too for. He’s very much “I am the big I am, and you will do what I tell you to,” which is all well and good when it comes to doing a job, but you kind of get the feeling that if you disagree with him, there will be consequences. I’m taking that to extremes, but I’m not his biggest fan. He does have some good moments, but generally, I don’t like him much – but I want to read about him and Merit more! I may like him better when we get to know him more. Catcher is a sorcerer, and he is just awesome. He’s strict when he needs to be, but he’s very funny and absolutely gorgeous. Jeff, the shifter, is adorable! I can’t decide if I’d rather adopt him or have his attention, haha! Then there’s Morgan, gorgeous, charming, powerful – pretty damn lovely really. I do have an iffy feeling about him though, I’m wondering if he’s perhaps too good to be true. Will just have to wait and see.There are a lot of laughs in this book, but there are also a lot of emotional moments. Merit didn’t want to be a vampire, it wasn’t her choice, and at first, she hate that this life has been forced upon her, and you can’t help but feel for her. There are also a few moments when she feels let down or left out, and I reacted, emotionally, as I would if someone had treated one of my best mates the way she was treated. I wanted to go and slap some faces. You can’t help but love Merit, and want things to go well for her.There isn’t a huge amount of action in this book when it comes to actual physical fighting, but there is the threat of fighting, and it’s awesome! When words are the weapons, I find it more exciting somehow, as you don’t know what’s going to be said by the others. There are a lot of hold-on-to-your-breath moments when you don’t know how certain situations are going to pan out. It’s just so cleverly written, Chloe Neill is brilliant!I was not expecting the end that came whatsoever, but it was just so... good! This particular story is resolved, but the resolution is what sparks off the story for the next books, and oooh, what a cliff hanger! It’s one of those cliff hangers where you don’t know what’s going to happen, it’ll happen over time, but it will happen, and it’s just a little exciting! I can’t wait to read Friday Night Bites to find out what comes next!I was reminded of quite a few other books while reading this. I don’t normally do this, but think of it as a “If you like these books, you’ll like this”. None of the actual storylines are similar in any of these books, but I was reminded of Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series, as both Merit and Cat have to deal with discoveries about who they are. I was also reminded of The Spellcrackers.com series by Suzanne McLeod, as vampires have come out into the open, and humans now know of their existence. Finally, I found the tone of Some Girls Bite at times to be similar to that of Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares series. I am a huge fan of all these series, so the tiny similarities are a plus for Some Girls Bite in my opinion. I believe I may have found myself another favourite book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In the setting of this book, Vampires have come forth and announced their existence and belong (except for the rogues) to one of twelve "houses" under the care of the house's master vampire.I think this is a great opening book to the Chicagoland Vampire series. Merit, the book's main character, is dealing with the transition from college student to vampire after she's attacked on campus by a rogue vampire and changed/saved by Ethan Sullivan (Master of Cadogan House).As a new vampire, Merit is proving to be an exceptional and a great asset to Ethan's house. However, Merit finds herself drawn to Master Vampire Ethan, but is also suspicious of him at the same time. She is targeted by an unknown source, and finds herself having to come to terms with what she is and having to decide if swearing her alligence to Ethan will help keep her alive.This book definitely made me want to crack open the next book in the series (Friday Night Bites) and keep reading! I felt that Merit was a well written character I could connect with, and the supporting characters are interesting and fit in well within the storyline.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I came across this series while re-shelving books at work one day back in December. I cut my reading teeth on Bram Stoker’s Dracula many moons ago and am always drawn to vampire books. Not that I read many of them these days, but Dracula remains one of my favorite books and I re-read it every couple years. Salem’s Lot is another great vampire story. I enjoyed An Interview with a Vampire when Anne Rice was all the rage. More recently I even gave The Twilight series a try, but stopped after the first book. I’m just not a fan of the romantic and/or blatantly sexual vampire story. I like my vampires to be mean and horrific, perhaps a teensey bit sympathetic, but not over-sexed lover boys (or girls) who ooze sexual tension all over the place and exist in a world that lacks a philosophical framework for their existence.

    The bookstore where I work shelves Some Girls Bite in the sci-fi/fantasy section, others may shelve it in romance as its often categorized as paranormal romance. What caught my eye was the Chicago setting and I added it to the books-to-read-list in my mind. My memory was jarred last week when I saw it again on display at my public library. I put aside my misgivings about the “smokin’-hot sexual tension” one reviewer praised on the back of the book and took it home.

    The book starts with an interesting buzz: a graduate student of English, Merit, is attacked by a vampire while walking across campus late one night. Her original attacker is scared away by Ethan, a kinder, gentler vampire who is the Master of the second oldest vampire house, Cadogen House. Merit is offered the opportunity to become a member of Cadogen House, but she’d have to swear eternal obedience not only to Cadogen House but also specifically to Ethan as her new Lord and Master. Ethan is “smokin’ hot” but he’s arrogant and may have had a secret agenda for turning her into a vampire. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Even if he is good can Merit stomach swearing absolute obedience to some guy she’s supposed to consider her Master? He saved her life by making her an undead. But most vampires are “made” only after giving their consent. But he didn’t have time to get her consent; he had to save her life. But why did he happen to be in Wicker Park at the University of Chicago campus at the exact moment Merit was attacked when his house is in Hyde Park? Does it have anything to do with her father’s connections? Merit is pretty much estranged from her father, but daddy is a big wig in Chicago. We don’t find out the answer to these questions; at least not in book one.

    The Chicagoland Vampires are the first in the country to “come out” and make their existence known to humans. Eight months before Merit is turned into a vampire, Celina Desaulniers, the smokin’ hot she-vamp master of the oldest and most powerful house, Navarre House, held a press conference to announce the existence of vampires. After months of panic the humans are settling down. The mayor even has a liaison officer to keep the lines of communication open between the vampires and other supernatural populations. What humans don’t know is that not all vampires are nicely tucked into official Houses that control their vampire natures. There are also rogue vampires who swear no allegiance to a house. Ethan thinks Merit may have been attacked by a rogue vampire and two more women also die around the time of Merit’s attack. The two victims look very similar to Merit. It seems Chicago has a vampire serial killer on their hands.

    Merit struggles to come to terms with the loss of her life as a graduate student, her new vampire identity, and has just days to decide if she’ll swear eternal loyalty to Cadogen House and Ethan. She has the support of her best friend and roommate, Mallory, her grandfather, and a couple of new friends as well. She also has to learn about vampire culture, get trained in the art of vampire sword fighting and using her new powers. On top of all that, Merit has to deal with the sexual heat created by all the “smokin’ hot” vampire boys. Meanwhile, the serial killer is out there, the rogue vampires are feeling left out, the vampire Houses are starting to bicker and the other supernaturals in the city—wizards, shape shifters, water nymphs—are buzzing with tension.

    I recommend Some Girls Bite to fans of paranormal romance. The Chicagoland Vampires novels are a series that Twilight fans can grow into. Hardcore vampire fans who prefer more traditional horror probably won't be interested unless they want to check it out for the Chicago location. I should add that the only other paranormal romance or romance novel that I've ever read was Nalini Singh's Angels' Blood
    (recommended by a friend who's an expert in romance books) which seemed to be more suspense/urban fantasy than romance, even it if is shelved in the romance section at my bookstore. Some Girls Bite was a quick, fun read, but it did drag in parts. Merit's sassy-ness spills over into bratty-ness at times and she seems rather immature for someone turning 28. I liked the world that Neill attempts to set up, but she does do more telling rather than showing at times, particularly when trying to portray tension between characters. That said, I do plan on reading the second book in the series, Friday Night Bites. The third Chicagoland Vampires Novel, Twice Bitten, is due out on July 6, 2010. Chloe Neill has a fresh voice and a fun imagination. I look forward to seeing how she'll develop as a storyteller.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is definitely more action packed than any other vampire book I've read. It wasn't about love or sex or anything like that. It was actually more about actually being vampire than anything else and it was a very pleasant change in scenery. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I'm not a huge fan of the vampire books these days but I still read them (because they are wonderfully prevalent in so many of the stories that I want to read). And I do keep my mind open on them. And this one was pleasant and fun. The main character and her best friend have a terrific relationship and are super sarcastic and funny. I also liked Merit a lot. She reacts the way I think I would react to a lot of situations. Now, I will admit that the whole set up was very familiar and that it worked with a number of vampire tropes that were just a little too unoriginal but I will definitely be picking up the next books in the series. I'm curious and definitely want to know if Merit ends up a Master vampire. And, maybe just a little curious to see if she ends up with Ethan. ;)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I decided to give this one a try since the series is finished and I have been reading another series by this writer that is in a different story setting. Merit is a grad student who is attacked by a rogue vampire and saved the final death by being turned by the vampire hunting the rogue. Vampires had just come out in the open but some things are denied to them. Merit is barred from grad school and learn to work in the house system the vampires have. She is also dealing with finding out her retired policeman grandfather isn’t so retired and her father reminds her not to embarrass the family. Lots of worldbuilding in this book and it helps that Merit doesn’t know much about vampires besides the usual so it doesn’t feel like an info dump. A good beginning to the series and I’ll pick them up at some point. I did listen to the audio version instead of reading it and didn’t find myself lost or confused since I had to pick it up and down all the time.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    3 stars and a half

    I came upon that book while looking for a series similar to Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels and that one was mentioned several times so I decided to give it a go.

    I think the characters are one of the strongest suits of the series. They still need some serious developing, but they started out pretty well. I especially like Merit and Mallory, but also Jeff (how is he only 21?). They're not there yet, though. The author clearly attemps to make them multi-layered and it's working, but there is something missing, I think. It's a really good start, though, and the dialogue, either external or inside Merit's head, made me laugh quite a few times. Snarky comments and replies surely helped me like this book way more than I anticipated.

    Indeed, I found the beginning a bit long, and almost dnf the book a handful of times, as I don't have the patience of keeping up with series I know I won't continue these days, after too many bad books I tried. But you can't say that the world we got a glimpse into doesn't make you at least a bit curious, and that's also what got me going. There isn't that much happening plot-wise, though. Or it might be too diluted with the rest, I don't know. In spite of all of that, it's still only the first book of the series, so I'm hoping what that one was lacking in some serious action will be compensated in the following volumes.

    I can't bring myself to rate this book higher at the moment, but at least it got me intrigued enough to continue. I cannot say if I would recommend it due to all of this, reading will only tell. It wasn't as strong of a start as the first from the Kate Daniels series, but since I got more and more into the KD series with each new book, I'm not willing the abandon Chicagoland Vampires just yet. Who knows? I might fall in love with it after all.

    Edit: after reading the beginning of the second book, I can say with some certitude that I won't be falling in love with the series after all. I gave it up after 2 chapters and a half, tbh.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    So I give this a 3.5 I figured out the "villains" early on and don't like Ethan at all. Morgan on the other hand.... if only our star girl would jump on board
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Some Girls Bite
    3 Stars

    Listened to this following Magic Bites and it is difficult not to find it lacking in comparison to the first Kate Daniels book.

    The narration is only so-so. Cynthia Holloway sounds wooden with no emotional inflection, and there is no real variation in the different voices - men and women, old and young, all sound alike.

    The pacing is slow and there is very little plot development. Nothing much happens beyond Merit being changed into a vampire and being introduced to a host of new characters and concepts. Most of the world building involves numerous long winded explanations interspersed with a few scenes that progress the plot - it is all telling with no showing.

    Much of the story is based on a series of unrealistic coincidences - Merit's grandfather just happens to be the liaison between humans and supernaturals and her roommate is conveniently a witch , and there is no tension or suspense surrounding the vampire serial killer subplot. The ultimate explanation also lacks the necessary foundation and is anti-climactic.

    The characterization is another weak point. Merit and Mallory behave like immature teenagers preoccupied with clothes and "boys". The men in their lives are adults (Ethan is 400 years old for heaven's sake), so why do they constantly call them "boys"?

    Merit is neither as snarky nor as angsty as many of the other Urban Fantasy heroines I've encountered recently. Nevertheless, it is impossible not to admire her demands for equality and appreciate her uniqueness. Ethan is arrogant, overbearing and domineering, but he and Merit have an intense and sizzling chemistry that neither of them wants nor needs, basically Pride & Prejudice with vampires.

    The secondary romance between Mallory and Catcher is completely incomprehensible. Their attraction is immediate and their relationship progresses at the speed of light from acquaintances to full couple complete with angst - where is the growth and development?

    Overall, Some Girls Bite suffers from the trials and tribulations of being a first book, but the world building is intriguing and the story and characters have potential, so I will continue with the series for now.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    1st in the Chicagoland Vampire series. Merit is a 27 year old grad student who suddenly finds herself changed into a vampire. There are three houses of vampires that have recently come out to normal society in Chicago. She belongs to the 2nd oldest. She also is very strong or so the book keeps eluding to. The book also reads like a mystery. There are a series of murders that have happened recently that have clues leading back to the vampire houses. Should prove to be an interesting series. But does seem to borrow from a number of other vampire series; different houses, various different supernatural species, vampires "coming out." Good overall she's certainly creating a world of her own.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I am now hooked on this series! I blame it all on Rachel at Fiktshun. It's all her fault. :P I kept hearing so many things about Chloe Neill's books, and I had to check it out for myself.

    This story is fast paced, and there is a ton of sarcastic humor. I know, I'm a sucker for sarcasm. But it is part of my daily conversation. ;) There was never a dull moment. I was actually surprised at who caused all the trouble. That doesn't happen often anymore.

    The characters were awesome! I love Mallory. She is every girl's dram BFF. Jeff is the pervy guy friend in the bunch, but he seriously has me laughing throughout the book. Merit, our MC, is strong and determined. When she decides to do something, it's whole-hearted. I love when the main character is a kick-ass chick. I can't wait to see what she's up against in the sequel. And Ethan..... I'm not sure how I feel about him. He has serious trust issues, and he's a little too arrogant for my taste, but we'll see how things go.

    I didn't care for the narrator much. Her parts for Merit were fine, but the male voices were a bit off, and started to sound the same.

    If you are a fan of The Hollows by Kim Harrison, you'll enjoy this series. There are many of the same elements.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Our heroine is changed into a vamp against her will, but she would have died had he not changed her. So starts her new life, she is stronger, faster and confused, over her feelings for the man that changed her as well as her new role in life. An interesting tale, Uf not romance, there is a hint of it in the future. This story has a realistic feel to it and side characters that are intriguing. I look forward to the second in this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Enjoyable paranormal mystery, first in the Chicagoland Vampires series. Reminded me most of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and October Daye series by Seanan McGuire.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I'm not sure why it took me so long to get to this series. I've had books 1-3 sitting on my shelf for almost a year. I finally picked it up the other day and couldn't put it down. I love this world and I fell in love with Merit, her roommate Mallory and the host of other beautiful and crazy characters. The hole that was left by the ending of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series has now been filled with Chicagoland vampires. This world is filled with political maneuvering from Merit's ambitious father, as well as the new vampire world she finds herself in. While Merit was a bit of a geek as a human she is a very talented vampire. Caught between hatred and love with the vampire who made her to save her life and now rules her house and is ultimately her boss, Merit often finds herself walking a thin line and having to play catch up to the vampire politics that have been around for centuries. The characters all have multiple layers and are developed nicely. The politics are fascinating and I can only see it getting more complex and intriguing. This is a great start to a series and it definitely sucks you in (pun intended). I expect that we will start to meet more species in the supernatural spectrum as the series goes on.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The only thing I am thinking right now (I just finished 'Some Girls Bite' literaly a minute ago) is why in the heck didn't I read this series before, and why haven't I already purchased the sequels. I am head over heels in love with Merit and super yummy Catcher. I loved the plot, the fact that the vamps were out in the open, the delicious mix if Supernaturally gifted creatures. I loved it all. I just want to go into more detail about every little think I loved about this books, but I don't want to give everything away. I loved the vocabulary skills of Chloe Neill, her expert use of sarcasm, her knowledge of Tristan and Isolde...I could go on, but you would all get bored. I truly loved everything about this book. NEXT PLEASE!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An enjoyable take on the vampires-come-out-to-the-public type of urban fantasy. Not grim and over-heavy on conspiracy/politic end of the humans becoming aware of and dealing with the existence of supernaturals. I liked the main heroine (reader friends warned me she was whine-y and irritating but I don't agree); plot flowed very quickly and mostly plausibly once you accepted the basic world building.

    I will (once they come down in price from the ridiculous $12.99 wanted for digital editions) be reading more in the series.

    All the accolades I just wrote aside, there were three issues I did have with the book.

    (1) the couple of graphics with the handwritten notes were a pain in the ass to read on my eInk kindle, even zoomed larger.

    (2) the centuries old vampires did not ring true to their age (almost everyone in the book with possible exception of her grandfather came across as mostly-privileged twenty-somethings). Ethan, the master vampire who turned her, came close because author kept him mostly the strong dark silent type (and then did some very wimpy and some very hokey moments peppered in that ruined it. Gee, a vampire in Chicago quietly assimilated into human lifestyle for decades who never encountered a hot dog?). Another vampire, Lyndsay (may not be remembering name correctly), several centuries old meets Merit twice and then is taking her advice on whether or not to date this newly turned vampire like a giggly teenager with a crush (come on, and Merit a single newly turned possibly untrustworthy vamp who is single, has not a serious relationship and a more than a year dating slump ... right...that's plausible).

    (3) About 72% thru the book, it morphed into a completely different book and character entirely. All of a sudden the heroine was a kickass soldier in basic training and perfectly adjusted to military life. Everyone all worried about potential "wars" breaking out. And she's the bodyguard for the master vampire (okay, hey, every English lit grad student who never did anything more physical than childhood ballet lessons goes that route).

    An interesting heroine and worldbuilding for the first 70 % of the book; if second book continues like that will be a series I will follow. If next book is like last quarter of this one, will drop the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A highly interesting read. One of the better vampire books that I've read in the past few years. And the good news is that it's book one.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Everyone raves about this one but I just don't get what the fuss is about.

    It was well written but nothing really happened. The first few chapters were interesting and the last couple tried hard to entice me back in but the chapters in between were a bit drawn out and lacked action.

    It obviously has fans out there but I'm afraid it wasn't for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I didn't think I'd like this book at first, it felt a bit darker than I usually like. My concerns were completely off-base. Fabulous, witty dialogue, great snarky characters and I want Mallory as my friend! I can't wait to read more about these people in future books. The plot line of this one was really solid, even if it sort of took a back seat to the process of Merit accepting being a vampire. I didn't see the end coming and I was surprised by the reveal of the bad guys.

    My only trepidation is the very end of the book - comments that Merit makes that make me think future books might *be* darker and sad. But only one way to find out!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When I started this series I didn't have that much confidence that it was going to be all that people were talking about. Boy, was I wrong! In spite of the only being the series opener, I LOVED it! It had a great plot, the author gave a awesome twist to the vampire world that we are all so used to seeing out there, Merit was absolutelly pure awesomeness and kick ass, not even going to start with Catcher and Mal - cute as hell and sexy too -, the book had amazing dialogues that made me spent half the time that I was reading it with a smile plastered on my face..oh, and the UST between Merit and Ethan was to die for and just made me want to jump right to the second book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    More of a 2, but the writing wasn't bad & the world was interesting. It's also the first of a series & holds out some hope of promise. The new, bad girl on the block was over done & too quickly - an English lit grad student with some dance experience becomes the toughest new vamp in town, able to stand up to those centuries old in days. Not only that, but she saves the day with mere weeks of training with a sword. Please! I don't read this sort of thing for realism, but my suspension of belief was battered to its knees.

    The next book might be better, but I don't know when or if I'll get around to reading it. There isn't enough difference in this world from any of the dozens of others out there.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Interesting story and character. I enjoyed the world and how everyone interacted with each. Was surprised in the end. Nice lead into the next book
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4 stars - very cute! good storytelling, great characters and an interesting storyline. Plus it's based in Chicago, though she got the pizza wrong. what can I say...no one's perfect.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Listening to audiobook. I love Cythia Holloway.

    I'm not so sure why it took me so long to start this series. I really enjoy it. I really like Merit and Mallory. Catcher and Jeff are great too. I'm still on the fence for both Ethan and Morgan. It also good to see that Merit is making the change to vampirism with Lindsay to help her. I think that they will become friends and Merit will need a good vampire friend.

    I've already started the second book and purchased the available books in the series. Can't wait to see where this series goes.