BLADE BOUND (CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES #13)

Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation into a vampire, Merit has stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago's Cadogan House. She's saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side. When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire who seems to be under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have imagined. As malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It is her last chance to save everything-and everyone-she loves.

Release Date: April 25, 2017

Chicagoland Vampires #13

Urban Fantasy

Berkley Publishing Group

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I absolutely couldn't wait to read Blade Bound and was full of dread at the same time. Seriously love the Chicagoland Vampire series, so I was both excited and sad to read the final book in the series. This review will be full of spoilers about the series, so if you are behind on reading the series, you have been warned.

Chloe Neill gave her readers everything they could have ever wanted with Blade Bound in my opinion. We had the romance between Ethan and Merit I've come to love. Their wedding was everything I had wanted and was so perfect for them. We had the action packed fighting we have come to expect from Ethan and Merit, along with help from all their friends. Cadogan House and friends were as usual the only ones who could come up with the solution needed to solve the problems in Chicago. We even had a few prophecies from Gideon that came to fruition, though I have to say I had not figured out how it would happen. I seriously had all the feels for every single thing that happened in this book. I listened to the audiobook and wanted to pull out my kindle and re-read this story as soon as I finished listening to the book. 

I've loved the Chicagoland Vampire series since I read the very first book. Yes, I totally had issue with a few things that happened along the way, but I trusted Ms. Neill to fix the situation and she always has to my satisfaction. I will miss my time with Ethan, Merit and all their friends, but Ms. Neill gave her readers the perfect going away gift. Well done Ms. Neill, well done.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

PHANTOM KISS (CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRE #12.5)

In this all-new novella from the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight Marked, Merit, Ethan, and the rest of Cadogan House crew discover that not all undead creatures are kindred spirits…

Vampires generally aren’t afraid of things that go bump in the night, but Merit and Ethan are extra jumpy after a recent attack by a dark sorcerer. So when they learn that someone is messing with graves in Chicago’s cemeteries, stealing skulls and snatching souls, they fear that their powerful foe might be back for even more magical vengeance.

But after a specter begins haunting Cadogan House—and targeting vampires—they realize that their being taunted by an altogether different sort of monster. A ghoulish villain straight out of the Windy City’s urban legends is on the prowl—and he won’t stop until he’s killed again...

Release Date: January 17, 2017

Chicagoland Vampires #12.5

InterMix Penguin Group

Paranormal Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I adore the Chicagoland Vampire series and was super excited to get Phantom Kiss to tide me over until Blade Bound is released in April. Chloe Neill once again delivered an engaging story that pulled me in from the very first page.

I love seeing where each installment in the series takes Merit and Ethan. I loved at the beginning of Phantom Kiss they were going to a couple's wedding shower at Merit's parents home. Merit's mother really does try hard to stay in her daughter's life and I love that she is just as enamored by Ethan as most everyone else. 

Merit and Ethan seem to always be the ones in charge of protecting Chicago. Of course when Annabelle calls about the disturbance of the grave in the cemetery, Merit and Ethan not only are the ones to show up, but they are instrumental in getting the disturbance solved. I love that we got to spend time with pretty much the whole crew of favorite characters as they battled the ghoul who is now haunting Cadogen House. While Annabelle is a recent addition to the crew, I've come to love her character every bit as much as other characters.

Phantom Kiss is a novella length book, so it was a super fast read for me. Partly because it was a novella, but mostly because I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. Phantom Kiss was a fun and fast-paced story and only made me more excited for the release of Blade Bound.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (B+)

MIDNIGHT MARKED (CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES #12)

As the Chicagoland Vampires series continues, Merit and Ethan find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where winning may require the ultimate sacrifice...

A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long...

Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire...

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death—and winning might mean sacrificing everything... 

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Penguin Group NAL

Chicagoland Vampire #12

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s review:

I fell in love with the Chicagoland Vampire series when I read the very first book. Merit is one of my favorite characters in the Urban Fantasy genre and I've loved watching her character grow over the course of the series. Merit has now been a vampire for one year, and she is finally figuring out her place in the supernatural's world.

I love that we got to spend at least a little bit of time with so many of my favorite characters in Midnight Marked. I love that Merit and Mallory are back on track, and totally cracked up about Mallory worrying she and Catcher might have a lack-luster sex life now that they are married, especially when she talks about the number to times per day they are having sex. 

As it's become the norm in the Chicagoland Vampires series, Merit and Ethan and all the vampires in Cadogan House are the ones to step up to not only solve the crimes that occur between the supernaturals, but keep the city of Chicago safe. I know Merit is a member of the Red Guard (RG), but I really thought they had pretty much disbanded since they never really seem to do anything but stay under the radar. I have to say I pretty much cheered when Merit met with the RG and gave them a piece of her mind.

I loved the romance in Midnight Marked so much. The fact that the date night between Merit and Ethan and Mallory and Catcher is at Wrigley Field for a Cubs game made me super happy. I love that Ethan knows Merit so well; he knows that is the one place she hasn't been able to go to since becoming a vampire. I love that even when Merit and Ethan are fighting with each other, they still have each other's backs against anyone else. 

I honestly didn't realize we only have one more book in the Chicagoland Vampires series until I saw it posted on another review. While I hate to see this series end because I love the characters so very much, I also have trusted Ms. Neill since early on in the series to know the characters and their direction. I only hope the wrap up in Book 13 gives me everything I've been waiting for with my favorite characters.

Midnight Marked is a great addition to the Chicagoland Vampires series. I seriously couldn't put the book down and I'm already counting down until we get the epic finale to this series. 

Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires #11)

A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan's dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don't know whether he's friend or foe. But they'll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs....

The connections to Chicago's Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last.... 

Release Date March 3, 2015

Penguin Group NAL

Chicagoland Vampires #11

I was lucky enough got get a review copy of Dark Debt thanks to the publisher through NetGalley. I've a huge fan of the Chicagoland Vampire series and couldn't wait to read the newest installment.

I felt like Chloe Neill totally delivered with Dark Debt. It had the feel of the earlier books in the series for me. I loved the time we got to spend with Merit, Ethan, Mallory and Catcher. While I love so many of the characters from the series, I think the friendship between Merit and Mallory and Ethan and Catcher keep me reading installment after installment.

With then end of the GP (General Presidium) and the start up of the AMM (Assembly of American Masters) I expected it to be a big part of the story. However with the return of Ethan's maker Balthazar, who Ethan thought was dead, the AMM took a bit of a backseat in Dark Debt. With the mystery of Balthazar and the discovery that Navarre is in debt to a mob-like group called The Circle, and Merit and Ethan have their hands full. I love how Cadogan house always steps up to solve all the problems with the other houses in Chicago.

The Balthazar story line overlapped with The Circle and I loved how Team Cadogan worked to figure out what was going on between the two. I also enjoyed getting to see Cadogan work with the other houses. We haven't really seen much of Morgan and Scott recently, but was happy to see them back in action in Dark Debt. As always it was awesome to see Merit's grandfather Chuck and Jeff working with Catcher to help with the investigation of both The Circle and Balthazar. 

I love watching each of the characters grow and change with each book. Each of the books build upon the last and with Dark Debt, Neill started a new story arc. Changes happen for Merit thanks to being exposed to Balthazar. Merit and her dad also have some changes in their relationship in Dark Debt. I've never been a very big fan of Joshua Merit, and felt like he got a bit of an eye-opener where it comes to his daughter. 

I really loved the changes that are happening in the Chicagoland Vampire series with Dark Debt. The friendships seem to be stronger and the alliances among the houses are growing stronger. While there is some drama between Jonah and Merit in Dark Debt, I felt that it had been coming for a while and totally supported Merit's stance. Catcher and Mallory's relationship was really in the spotlight in Dark Debt and I absolutely loved   how Merit had Mallory's back to make sure her dreams came true.

Dark Debt was an awesome addition to the Chicagoland Vampire series. I read and listen to the audio book with each new book. To anyone who loves audio books, Sophie Eastlake does such an amazing job with each and every book in this series.