Charmfall (Dark Elite, Book 3) [Paperback]

Chloe Neill (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 3, 2012

Protecting Chicago from the dark side of life can be an exhausting job, especially when you're in high school. So when the girls of St. Sophia's start gearing up for Sneak, their fall formal, Lily decides to take a break from fighting to get ready for the event. But when a Reaper unexpectedly crashes the party prep and Lily's firespell fails, she realizes that she has a much bigger problem than a full social calendar...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chloe Neill is the author of the Dark Elite novels and the Chicagoland Vampire series. She lives in the Midwest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780451230805
• ISBN-13: 978-0451230805
• ASIN: 0451230809
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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#83 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

#83 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Charm Falls Flat January 3, 2012

By anne-marie

Format:Paperback

Chicago's having a crisis of epic power proportions. There seems to be an epidemic of blackouts within the city limits. Unfortunately the shortages aren't of the electrical variety. Chi-Town's Dark Elite, Reapers and Adepts alike are amidst a magical misfortune, losing their abilities like a flip of a switch. Lilly and her crew are going to have to make some unlikely alliances to solve the mystery of missing magic and get their powers back.

Third time is not a charm for Neill's current installment in her Dark Elite series. While the story line was good, it just didn't have that WOW factor. Charmfall is yet another lost opportunity to really develop this series and the wonderful ideas presented in it. Neill's solid story line was smothered by the surrounding filler and useless banter that kept the main characters meandering about slowly, focusing more on dance decorations, verbal bestie bonding, and the detailed travels of subterranean Chicago. Much of which has been adequately covered in the past two books. The new larger format paperback didn't help matters either. It seems more of a waste for a book barely 240 pages deep and ridiculously includes the first two chapters of book one, Firespell, for the only reason I can decipher, to bulk up the book.

I would have preferred the extra possible capacity be used toward a little more action or development of the secondary story lines. Increasingly I am finding that the supporting characters are more interesting as well, and think an alternate perspective could breathe some much needed depth to the books. Sebastian Born for example is an under utilized character. He has differing ideas about magic not inline with either faction and I think his POV could be riveting.... I really liked what was happening with Nicu's thread, which was touched upon when convenient, but barely explored. I was also hoping for the real complication of Jason's background to come about, maybe a betrothed to spice things up, but he's just stressed out by the family problems vaguely mentioned. Even the author's weak attempt at painting Parker as a different thinking Adept just didn't hold. Plus she didn't touch on Parker's parents and past threads involving them at all. Neill also is becoming the timid love triangle queen. Much like her Chicagoland Vamp books, any possible angst between Jason, Lilly, and Sebastian seem null at this point, regardless of the groundwork thats there.

What this book is really lacking is that OMG factor that leaves you pining for the next installment. Charmfall is a watered down version of what the series could be, with good ideas, characters, and story lines that are never really explored. Neill's YA books feel like an afterthought and are clearly becoming a backseat series to her adult work. I really wish she would put as much effort and passion into the series as she does when describing her hometown eats. If not maybe she should forego fiction and focus on an epicurious guide to chi-town's great culinary offerings. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to the series June 11, 2012

By Fall Into Books

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Chloe Neill out did herself with this novel. Charmfall kept me reading until the early hours of the morning. I could not put the book down once I started it! Lily and the rest of the Adepts are experiencing a power outage. After she hears from Sebastian, super hot, though maybe evil (but maybe not?) Reaper, Lily learns that not only does the power outage affect the Adepts, but it also affects the Reapers. The only good part of this equation is that they're evenly matched, or are they? Someone has caused this power outage, and that means someone still has power. Lily and Scout work with Sebastian in order to determine who is behind the power outage plaguing Chicago and why.

The characters in this novel are much better developed than they were in Firespell, and they keep growing and changing with each addition to the series. Lily is growing into her powers and becoming comfortable in her own skin. She has started to trust her "gut instinct," and that pays off. However, she still can't decide whether or not Sebastian is completely good or evil. She also can't decide if she's friends with him or if they're just using each other for information. This sets the stage for an interesting 4th novel, but don't worry Jason fans, he's in the novel, too, and Lily doesn't betray him.

Speaking of Jason, his family keeps putting more pressure on him to fulfill his werewolf destiny. For those of you who read Hexbound, you know that means to marry another werewolf. He's on edge throughout the novel because of that, and so is Lily. It adds a tension to the plot that may not have been there with simply the disappearance of magic. Jason seems to really care for Lily and vice-versa.... He has moments of immaturity in the book, but he always comes through for her when he's really needed, and that's what matters. However, his family "obligation" makes Lily (and me) uncomfortable. I am looking forward to seeing what Neill does with Jason's situation.

Scout is angrier than usual in this novel. I'm noticing as the series progresses, Scout's bitterness keeps growing. I am not sure if that's just because of the situations she's faced with in the books or if it's setting up something for later in the series. I'll be interested to find out. Either way, Scout is still a good friend to Lily, and they fight this battle of having lost powers together. Scout surprises me when she stands by Lily no matter what and trusts her to make the right decision. It's obvious that their friendship has evolved and become more stable. They are very loyal to each other, and it's growing into a sisterly bond instead of just a friendship. There wasn't a lot of Michael in this novel, and I would have liked to have seen more of him. I don't know where he would have fit in more, though, so I understand why he wasn't present as much as usual.

A character that I don't know what to think about is Sebastian. Part of me really wants to like and trust him (like Lily), but the other part can't help but think there's more going on with him than Neill is letting on right now. One thing is clear, though. He really seems to care about Lily's well-being, and super hot soul-sucker or not, that has to say something, right? I can't wait to see where Neill takes his character.

What Dark Elite novel would be complete without the Brat Pack? Veronica and Co are back in action in this book, but Veronica is different. She has a love interest that's shocking to everyone. I'm not sure I'm buying what's going on with that, but again, Neill may have something up her sleeve that we readers don't know about yet. So instead of just writing it off all together, I'm going to wait and see what she has in mind. One thing I've learned from reading the Chicagoland Vampire Series and the Dark Elite Series, when Chloe Neill does something that doesn't exactly set well with me, she tends to fix it with a stroke of brilliance in the next book. So I'm just going to have faith in her ability as an author and see how this plays out.

Charmfall moves more quickly than the previous two Dark Elite novels. There is more action and more suspense. Neill has created a world that you can easily lose yourself (and your sleep) in. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Collecting the series April 10, 2012

By Inkd22

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I haven't read this book yet because I am waiting for the rest of the series to come out. I like to read them in order and not have to wait for the next book to be released. This particular book I received must have been a factory reject because half of the pages were oddly cut at the top and the type was crooked. I can still read it so it's ok.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Chicago Rocks! March 2, 2012

By Jessica S.

Format:Paperback

Chloe Neill's Charmfall picks up around the time we left off, same school year and since it's still fall it can't have been real long. We open up to seeing Lily and her pals practicing using their magic in defensive situations, and then jumps to Lily, the ordinary teen helping make decorations for Sneak. Not much time passes in the book since by the end they go to the dance, but it's still a pretty fun read!

When Lily attempts to rescue a classmate from a Reaper, she finds she has no power. None. Then she and Scout soon realize that all the Adepts have lost their power, except Jason, who is cursed and doesn't just have power for a borrowed time. The next day she sees Sebastian and learns that Reapers too are without power, so they are not behind the blackout. So who is, that's the mystery!

One thing that was not necessarily annoying, just puzzling, was why the Adepts wanted their powers back. They are the ones who acknowledge that they will one day give it up, so why can't today be that day? Why must they get their powers back? It didn't really bug me all that much, just something that kept spiraling through my mind every now and then.

Tension is brewing even thicker between the Reapers and Adepts as they each think the other is behind it, but Lily knows that that is not the case and she's determined to find out what the problem really is. No matter what. Even if it means talking to Sebastian more and more--which becomes a noticeable problem to the Adepts when she comes back with info. Causing a rift between her and Jason.

The tension was done really well. I love how Lily is conflicted with the rules and ways of Reapers and Adepts, despite being an Adept herself. She is a wonderful character.... She sees the world as it is, in greys instead of black and white like the rest of her friends.

Scout is still an amazing friend to her. Together they are there for one another as they each have their downfalls. They pick each other up and work together to try to solve the mystery.

I can't say that I truly saw it coming in all the gory details, but I did have my suspicions! The ending was good too. It doesn't necessarily give a concrete happy ending, those are only set in the finale of course, but it still leaves you satisfied and craving for more!

Charmfall was a spellbinding read! It captures you into a world that is ours, but here magic is real! I love this series and so can't wait for my next trip to Chicago!

Overall rating 4/5 stars Read more ›