Helpful Score: 3
This was a whirlwind of " who done it" and why. Somebody is trying very hard to kill the head of the shifters and maybe some vamps along with them. The shifters play a huge role in this addition to the series. Will they leave Chicago and hide in the hills or will they stay and fight the foreseen upcoming war ? The tension between them and the vamps, seems never ending. Ethan and Merit struggle to fit together. He is so many years away from his human side and she so new and still so human, there relationship grows, blows and sizzles.
I was not disappointed at all, the story was fast paced and intriguing. I can't wait till the next installment of this series. I see some big changes coming !
I was not disappointed at all, the story was fast paced and intriguing. I can't wait till the next installment of this series. I see some big changes coming !
Helpful Score: 1
I won't go into details at the risk of spoilers but I love this series. Too often sequels falter but in this authors case, each book is as good as the last. I becoming quite the fan of Neill and those who like urban fantasy with more than just sex/romance ( although there is sufficient amounts in there) these books will be a hit!
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Bk 3) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Merit and her Master vampire have a love-hate relationship. Merit isn't sure how to evolve apart from the relationship, and she's not sure she wants to try. However, something more important catches the attention of the vampire community - the arrival of the werewolves for a meeting about their future.
The Alpha werewolf extends the hand of interest to Ethan Sullivan and Merit. They attend a meeting of the werewolf clan heads, only to find tempers raging and the night ending with disaster.
Now, Ethan and Merit must act as guards for the Alpha while trying to untangle an attempted murder, as well as figuring out the future for the werewolves and thus the entire paranormal community. In a previous war, the werewolves let the vampires take on the humans. Now that the world might be on the brink of war once again, will the werewolves stay and fight, or will they disappear like they did before?
With tensions at a boiling point, Merit's having issues finding an outlet from work. Work is crazy. Her love life is a disaster. She's in a fight with her best friend. Will all these issues add up to Merit doing something reckless and endangering herself?
An adult novel from a crossover author (Ms. Neill's YA debut was FIRESPELL) and the third in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series that's hard to put down. There are so many things I love about this series, but mostly it's the relationships: Merit and her relationship with Sullivan - the snark and verbal sparring and their tension, Merit and Mallory's relationship, and Merit vs. the world.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Merit and her Master vampire have a love-hate relationship. Merit isn't sure how to evolve apart from the relationship, and she's not sure she wants to try. However, something more important catches the attention of the vampire community - the arrival of the werewolves for a meeting about their future.
The Alpha werewolf extends the hand of interest to Ethan Sullivan and Merit. They attend a meeting of the werewolf clan heads, only to find tempers raging and the night ending with disaster.
Now, Ethan and Merit must act as guards for the Alpha while trying to untangle an attempted murder, as well as figuring out the future for the werewolves and thus the entire paranormal community. In a previous war, the werewolves let the vampires take on the humans. Now that the world might be on the brink of war once again, will the werewolves stay and fight, or will they disappear like they did before?
With tensions at a boiling point, Merit's having issues finding an outlet from work. Work is crazy. Her love life is a disaster. She's in a fight with her best friend. Will all these issues add up to Merit doing something reckless and endangering herself?
An adult novel from a crossover author (Ms. Neill's YA debut was FIRESPELL) and the third in the CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES series that's hard to put down. There are so many things I love about this series, but mostly it's the relationships: Merit and her relationship with Sullivan - the snark and verbal sparring and their tension, Merit and Mallory's relationship, and Merit vs. the world.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Bk 3) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the third book in the Chicagoland Vampires series and my favorite so far. This book had a more solid plot than previous books and things escalate both between Ethan and Merit and between the shapeshifters and the vampires. Definitely a must read if you enjoyed the first couple books of this series.
I listed to this on audiobook and the audiobooks for this series are incredibly well done. This is one of those series that I think sounds even better than it would read; the narrator just does such a wonderful job.
Shapeshifters are meeting in the Windy City and they meet to decide if they will return to their homeland or stay for the oncoming supernatural war. Ethan lends out Merit's services as a bodyguard to the shapeshifter's leader Gabriel-Keene. As the time to the Shapeshifter Convocation draws closer it becomes clear that someone has put a hit out on Gabriel. Merit continually finds herself in the line of fire. Not only that but she is trying to navigate treacherous politics between the shapeshifters and vamps while also doing one on one training sessions with Ethan to try to improve her lackluster sparring skills.
This was the best book in this series so far. Things are really building to a climax in multiple ways. The shapeshifters are on the edge of either staying of fleeing as war approaches the supernatural community and the way they choose will tip the balance one way or the other. The tension between Merit and Ethan is constantly building and it was absolutely killing me to know what would happen between them. Merit is starting to understand her own powers and finally figuring out way to break down the wall she keeps hitting when she tries to spar.
Romance is a huge driver in this story. The tension between Merit and Ethan is absolutely sizzling. This is one of those books where I loved Ethan and then I hated him. Seriously he jerks Merit around so much; yet he does it in a strangely understandable way. The only other series I can think of that has had me as emotionally involved as this one is the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I swear there were parts of this book where I was holding my breath to see what would happen.
Beyond that a lot of other neat stuff happens in this book. Lots of action in this one, Merit finds herself in a number of combat situations and performs admirably. The addition of the shapeshifters raised the stakes and ratcheted up the tension in this book, really driving the plot forward. So much depending on their decision to stay or leave. I continue to love the fun and witty banter between all of these wonderful characters.
The story wraps up well, but will have people a bit frustrated I am sure. I am very eager to see where both the building-war and the Merit-Ethan thing ends up going. I am dying to read Hard Bitten now. I was a little disappointed that Mallory wasn't in the story more, she always adds a lot of fun. Hopefully we will see her more in future installments.
Overall the best book in this series, absolutely stellar. If you liked the first few books in this series you'll love this one. Tons of action, building tension between the shifters and vamps, and lots of Ethan-Merit moments. This was a super engaging and fun read. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy. Reminds a bit of the Night Huntress series; so if you like that series I think you will love this one as well.
I listed to this on audiobook and the audiobooks for this series are incredibly well done. This is one of those series that I think sounds even better than it would read; the narrator just does such a wonderful job.
Shapeshifters are meeting in the Windy City and they meet to decide if they will return to their homeland or stay for the oncoming supernatural war. Ethan lends out Merit's services as a bodyguard to the shapeshifter's leader Gabriel-Keene. As the time to the Shapeshifter Convocation draws closer it becomes clear that someone has put a hit out on Gabriel. Merit continually finds herself in the line of fire. Not only that but she is trying to navigate treacherous politics between the shapeshifters and vamps while also doing one on one training sessions with Ethan to try to improve her lackluster sparring skills.
This was the best book in this series so far. Things are really building to a climax in multiple ways. The shapeshifters are on the edge of either staying of fleeing as war approaches the supernatural community and the way they choose will tip the balance one way or the other. The tension between Merit and Ethan is constantly building and it was absolutely killing me to know what would happen between them. Merit is starting to understand her own powers and finally figuring out way to break down the wall she keeps hitting when she tries to spar.
Romance is a huge driver in this story. The tension between Merit and Ethan is absolutely sizzling. This is one of those books where I loved Ethan and then I hated him. Seriously he jerks Merit around so much; yet he does it in a strangely understandable way. The only other series I can think of that has had me as emotionally involved as this one is the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. I swear there were parts of this book where I was holding my breath to see what would happen.
Beyond that a lot of other neat stuff happens in this book. Lots of action in this one, Merit finds herself in a number of combat situations and performs admirably. The addition of the shapeshifters raised the stakes and ratcheted up the tension in this book, really driving the plot forward. So much depending on their decision to stay or leave. I continue to love the fun and witty banter between all of these wonderful characters.
The story wraps up well, but will have people a bit frustrated I am sure. I am very eager to see where both the building-war and the Merit-Ethan thing ends up going. I am dying to read Hard Bitten now. I was a little disappointed that Mallory wasn't in the story more, she always adds a lot of fun. Hopefully we will see her more in future installments.
Overall the best book in this series, absolutely stellar. If you liked the first few books in this series you'll love this one. Tons of action, building tension between the shifters and vamps, and lots of Ethan-Merit moments. This was a super engaging and fun read. Highly recommended to fans of urban fantasy. Reminds a bit of the Night Huntress series; so if you like that series I think you will love this one as well.
Stacy W. (whatstacy) -
Helpful Score: 1
**spoiler alert**
I just can't get enough of Merit. Even thought she seems to flow from one drama filled explosion to another, she finds humor to deal with her crazy life. Ethan and Merit finally cross that line, and then Ethan panicks. It crushed me how he handled the situation, but things are looking up for the couple. It seems that Ethan is not going to give up on winning Merit back. This time around the chaos is full of shifter family drama that drags Merit into the middle and wounds the Cadogan house--literally--with an attack and fire. But none of my favorite character are lost. Start at the beginning of this series to get the full scope, you won't be disappointed.
http://texasreader-stacy.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/whatstacy
I just can't get enough of Merit. Even thought she seems to flow from one drama filled explosion to another, she finds humor to deal with her crazy life. Ethan and Merit finally cross that line, and then Ethan panicks. It crushed me how he handled the situation, but things are looking up for the couple. It seems that Ethan is not going to give up on winning Merit back. This time around the chaos is full of shifter family drama that drags Merit into the middle and wounds the Cadogan house--literally--with an attack and fire. But none of my favorite character are lost. Start at the beginning of this series to get the full scope, you won't be disappointed.
http://texasreader-stacy.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/whatstacy
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a conundrum. While it finally delivers on the building romance between Merit and Ethan, at the same time the rest of the book felt like a boring reprise of the past two books.. The regurgitation, this early in a series, of basic story elements, the formulaic approach to the writing, has almost turned me off the series. I'm also not sure how I feel about the rather juvenile way almost every character speaks. I get that Merit is 29 and should talk like a young woman in the early 21st century. But why does every other character talk the same way? Why do they all use the same figures of speech, why does everyone use contemporary urban slang?
I also don't get the fight between Merit and Mallory. I didn't really get how Merit let Mallory down or how Merit should have to apologize for her relationship with Ethan. Chloe Neill never shows us any situation where merit has chosen Ethan over her other friends or family, yet that is what Mallory accuses her of (in the previous book), and that is what Merit feels guilty about. Makes no sense. Evidently Chloe Neill was originally a young adult author, and you can really feel that in the books. I think she has a difficult time making the jump into the adult world, frankly.
Progression of Merit/Ethan story -A-
Storytelling -C
I also don't get the fight between Merit and Mallory. I didn't really get how Merit let Mallory down or how Merit should have to apologize for her relationship with Ethan. Chloe Neill never shows us any situation where merit has chosen Ethan over her other friends or family, yet that is what Mallory accuses her of (in the previous book), and that is what Merit feels guilty about. Makes no sense. Evidently Chloe Neill was originally a young adult author, and you can really feel that in the books. I think she has a difficult time making the jump into the adult world, frankly.
Progression of Merit/Ethan story -A-
Storytelling -C
Robin M. (robinmy) -
Shapeshifters from across the country are gathering in Chicago for an important meeting. Unlike the Vampires, the Shifters do not want the human population knowing they exist. Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan sees the meeting as a chance to build bridges with the Shapeshifter community, and offers Merit's services as protection for their Alpha, Gabriel Keene. As Ethan and Merit work together, they discover that someone wants Gabriel dead. It's up to them to make sure that doesn't happen.
This is a very good addition to Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. The shifters are very central to this plot. Many of them do not like vampires, and feel that Ethan just wants to use them for his own gain. We see the shifter hierarchy and learn that they have been at odds with the vampires for centuries. I liked the story and was truly surprised when the person behind the attempted assassination was revealed.
The chemistry between Ethan and Merit sizzles in this book. I cheered when Ethan finally tells Merit how he feels. But, by the middle of the book, I was ready to kick his butt. Thankfully, he redeems himself (a little) by the end of the story. Now I can't wait to start the next book in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This is a very good addition to Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. The shifters are very central to this plot. Many of them do not like vampires, and feel that Ethan just wants to use them for his own gain. We see the shifter hierarchy and learn that they have been at odds with the vampires for centuries. I liked the story and was truly surprised when the person behind the attempted assassination was revealed.
The chemistry between Ethan and Merit sizzles in this book. I cheered when Ethan finally tells Merit how he feels. But, by the middle of the book, I was ready to kick his butt. Thankfully, he redeems himself (a little) by the end of the story. Now I can't wait to start the next book in the series. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, Bk 3) on + 724 more book reviews
A good book, am hoping for more from the next book
