Biting Cold: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel [Kindle Edition]

Chloe Neill (Author)

Book Description

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined.

And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans.

 

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed.

No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Chicagoland Vampires novels:

"These books are wonderful entertainment; and if you are looking for a vampiric role-model, you couldn't do any better than Merit of House Cadogan. Chicago is lucky to have her." -- #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Charlaine Harris

"A wonderfully compelling vampire heroine." --USA Today bestselling author Julie Kenner

"[A] strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake." --Library Journal
 
"Delivers enough action, plot twists, and fights to satisfy the most jaded urban fantasy reader."--Monsters and Critics"If you loved Nancy Drew but always wished she was an undead sword-wielding badass, Merit is your kind of girl." -Geek Monthly

About the Author

Chloe Neill was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. She is the author of the Chicagoland Vampires paranormal romance series and the Dark Elite series, including Firespell and Hexbound. An avid reader her whole life, Sophie Eastlake happily extends her love of books to her passion for narrating. She lives in New York, where she survives the subway grind with a book in her hand and drops in on every literary reading she can find, while on a never-ending quest for the perfect cup of coffee.

Product Details

• File Size: 576 KB
• Print Length: 348 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451237013
• Publisher: NAL; 1 edition (August 7, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007HU7JHS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,336 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I had hoped August 7, 2012

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

I had a really hard time getting into this book. As a big fan of Ethan and Merit, I had high hopes for the reunion brought on by the events of Drink Deep. Granted, I wasn't overly excited by the prospect of the Mallory arc, but that turned out to be a moot issue anyway, since very little of the book is about her. Let me back up.

This book begins right where the last one left off, with Ethan and Merit in pursuit of Mallory and the dark book she covets. There are a lot of longing looks and lingering emotions, but they can't act on them because of the pressing nature of their mission. They actually apprehend Mallory pretty fast. She's not the Big Bad after all. The real bad guy (who I won't name so I don't spoil you) quickly takes center stage as Merit, Ethan, and the gang try to figure out how to defeat him.

Here's the thing, I felt like the first quarter of the book was delay-delay-delay on the Ethan-Merit love fest. Then Ethan develops a problem that makes him push Merit away before they can ever really get back together. This is where I went from a little bored to a bit annoyed. We've been there and we've done that with these two, ad nauseum. I felt like we, as readers, earned a big payoff on these two after all we have been through with them. I cried for two darn books over Ethan's death and Merit's mourning. We've moved past sexual tension into the realm of "you've got to be kidding me."

As for the action-arc, it was fairly good, though nothing entirely earth shattering. I felt more anxious about the looming judgement from the GP on the future of Cadogen House than any real danger from the bad guy. I mean, what's the worst he could do? After we survived Chloe Neill killing Ethan, any other worst-case scenario is going to seem tame by comparison.

Things do pick up in the last third of the book. That's when we get the big showdowns in both the emotional and physical aspects of the story. Both were pretty good, but I think I spent so much time being underwhelmed, it may have just been too late. The book wasn't bad. It's just that I have seen what this series is capable of and... it's better than this.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An exhilarating ride August 7, 2012

By A Book Obsession.. TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

The universe should have given Merit at least a small break for a happy reunion after certain someone's miraculous return. But that just isn't in the cards as her somewhat former best friend's turn to the dark side stands in the way. Mallory is determined to steal a something that would unleash all evil unto the world, and Merit has the best chance at stopping her. It becomes a wild goose chase across the country in a fight that she must win at all costs. But Mallory isn't the only problem as someone else wants the book too, and he makes Mallory's powers look like parlor tricks. Merit is in for the fight of her life.

I was utterly crushed by the events of Hard Bitten. Losing Ethan was simply horrible. I was every bit a shambled mess as Merit was, right up until the very end of Drink Deep when the awaited miracle happens. Now in Biting Cold, I had expected Ethan and Merit to be head over heels for each other and all the issues and insecurities between them to be a thing of the past. So, when they weren't I couldn't help being a little disappointed. Of course once I took a step back I realized that even death wouldn't have been some miracle cure for the issues between them. Granted, it definitely was a major wake up call for Merit, but that doesn't mean she would be able to be happy with the constant indecision Ethan finds himself in when it comes to her. There is a whole lot of healing that needs to happen first, along with a good deal of change, but it seems like they are finally taking a step in the right direction. Only time will tell, as there have been so many false starts, I am almost afraid to believe this one will stick, but I have more hope this time around than I ever did before.

It really is amazing how much Merit has grown from the start of the series. She has truly come into her own, both as a Woman and a powerful Vampire. As much as I do not want to admit it, I think the issues between her and Ethan as well as his death forced the most growth upon her. As much as he strengthened Merit and helped her become who she is, a part of her was still held back by her reliance on him. Once that tie was severed, she was able to become the Vampire she was meant to be, with the confidence to back it up. In fact it puts her on more of an equal footing with Ethan, now that he is her support rather than a crutch. Here's a swoon worthy quote:
Ethan leaned in, his lips at my ear. "Irresistible force," he said. "Immovable object. Choose the one you want to be, and do it. You are a vampire of great power, Merit. Prove it to us, to the city of Chicago, to the Houses. Prove it now."
And prove it she does. I personally don't think Cadogan House could possibly have a better Sentinel, and I'm just glad to see that Merit is finally realizing her true worth.

I'm really impressed with the way Chloe Neill handled everything that went on in Biting Cold. There were a whole lot of events happening that should have been overwhelming, but were all seamlessly blended together to form a incredibly exciting book. After the massive shakeup of Hard Bitten, I was worried that this series was on its way out, but after reading Drink Deep and especially Biting Cold, Chloe Neill has proven that the Chicagoland Vampires are here to stay. Biting Cold is one exhilarating ride from start to finish that you won't want to miss!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I will be reading book 7 as soon as humanly possible August 14, 2012

By Urban Fantasy Investigations

Format:Paperback

Ethan and Merit are back together. YAY. BITING COLD picks up immediately after the events of DRINK DEEP

I had a harder time getting into BITING COLD in the beginning but once the action started I was back glued to the pages waiting to see what would happen next. I know Mallory is Merit's best friend and all but I thought she got through everything a little easier then I would have preferred. Sure she is suffering but she caused SO much trouble and hurt, she was selfish and she could have destroyed the world. I was very happy with how Merit treated the whole situation. I was shocked by the multiple twists regarding Seth Tate, who would have thought? Ethan drives me nuts sometimes. He still attempts to "protect" Merit in BITING COLD in his usual way and I really wish I could have smacked him upside the head at one point. He did however fix his thinking. I missed not having Jonah a big part of the story but hopefully he will be back in a greater role now that Ethan is back for a whole book.

Loved the ending. Cant elaborate on that but I cant wait to see what happens after the results were revealed. There are so many things about this series that I love and so many things that still need to be revealed. There is no way I could miss a Chicagoland Vampire book so i will be reading book 7 as soon as humanly possible

More About the Author

Chloe Neill was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest--just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia's to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit's and Lily's adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys--her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.) You can learn more about Chloe by visiting http://chloeneill.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#62 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#62 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic