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Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires
Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09937-1
Reviewed by Lorraine Cormack
Twice Bitten is the third in the Chicagoland vampire series – the second, Friday Night Bites is reviewed here. Twice Bitten is in very much the same mould as its’ predecessor, sharing its characteristics, and particularly its weaknesses.
Shapeshifters from across America are convening in Chicago to decide whether or not to retreat to their Alaskan stronghold. Their decision is of critical interest to vampires; if they choose to retreat they are essentially abandoning vampires to whatever humans decide to do – and the signs are ominous; bad times may be coming for vampires. If the shifters decide to stay, they may provide some protection and support for their supernatural colleagues. Given the intense interest of vampires in the outcome of the Convocation, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered Merit, the Sentinel of his House, as bodyguard to Gabriel Keene, the Alpha shapeshifter.
Chloe Neill
Chicagoland Vampires Book 2
Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-09405-5
Reviewed by Lorraine Cormack
Friday Night Bites is an entrant in the emerging urban fantasy meets chick lit genre. There are quite a few books around right now that fit that genre, and they generally feature independent, sassy heroines who are looking for the right guy, and often a fair bit of humor along the way. Unfortunately, while Friday Night Bites definitely aspires to that, it offers a doormat heroine, little humor, a weak plot, and limp worldbuilding. It manages to be mildly entertaining while you’re reading it, but there’s no depth here and it’s not memorable.
The novel is the second in the Chicagoland Vampires series. I have not read the first in the series, but the basic set up seems to be that in the first novel, a series of murders committed by a vampire led to vampire society coming out of the closet, so to speak, and humans discovering not only that vampires exist but they have a fairly well regulated society.
Merit was made a vampire in the first novel, without her consent, which is apparently unusual. She was “made” by Ethan Sullivan, master of Cadogan House. Now a vampire, she has been appointed Sentinel for the House, despite the fact she was an English lit student, and has no fighting ability. As Friday Night Bites opens, she is leaving her flat to move into Cadogan House, one of the major power bases of vampires in Chicago. At her master’s request, she will quickly become caught up in an investigation to find out who, exactly, is trying to start a war between vampires and humans. And naturally this is complicated by Merit’s attraction to Ethan – not only is he a very old, experienced vampire, he’s also technically her boss.
Chloe Neill
A Chicagoland Vampires novel
Gollancz (2010)
ISBN: 978-0-575-09405-5
Reviewed by Tehani Wessely
Being made into a vampire against your will isn’t every girl’s dream. But if you have to be turned, becoming a powerful creature that quickly gains a strong position in your vampire “family”, along with the adoration of a bunch of male vamps, can’t be such a bad thing. Merit finds herself in just such a position, torn between her Master and the vampire he’s thrown her at, and forced back into the fold of her human family for the benefit of her House. But Merit’s relationships are all under pressure while she tries to find out who is behind threats to her House – will she manage to hold it all together?
This is a fairly generic urban fantasy – in fact, I don’t think it deserves that designate, as urban fantasy is generally grittier and tougher than Friday Night Bites manages, but nor does it fit the markers of paranormal romance.
Chloe Neill
A Chicagoland Vampire Novel
Gollancz (2009)
ISBN: 978-0-575-09405-5
Reviewed by Mitenae
Merit is moving out and into House Cadogan but isn’t quite ready to give up her home completely, when her grandfather and ombudsman between humans and supernaturals asks her to pass on a level one package to Ethan, her Master.
Ethan has learned a journalist is planning an exposé on underworld vampire activities and asks Merit to help get him into the high society world Merit has tried to escape her whole life. Then the Greenwich Presidium releases Celina Desaulniers, the vampire who tried to make Merit her third victim, going against the deal Merit’s grandfather negotiated.
Celina is once again loose and chances are there is only one vampire she has her sights set on. Merit.
Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus 