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36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful 2nd book in the Chicagoland Vampires series, October 7, 2009
This review is from: Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
Chloe Neill's sophomore effort makes it very clear that the greatness of her first book, "Some Girls Bite", was not accidental.
The book opens a month after the events of the first book. There is a great deal of recapping in the first few chapters (the only thing that I could do without, but I understand that it might be necessary for those who missed the first book). Merit is still struggling with her transition to a vampire, but things are even worse now because almost every single relationship in her life is undergoing major changes. Her best friend is caught up in her own problems (learning to be a sorceress), and Merit is trying to juggle adjusting to her new life, solving a new mystery involving her House, and hiding a dark secret - the fact that she feels separate from her inner vampire and has to spend a lot of energy trying to control it.
I won't go into the details of the plot: the readers should be left unspoiled, all the better to enjoy the satisfying conclusion and the final cliffhanger, which is more of a lead-in to the third book. The trademark fine qualities that distinguish Chloe Neill's first book are present here: wonderful characterization and character development, interesting plot, emotional honesty and nuanced, intelligent writing. One of Chloe Neill's greatest strength as a writer, especially a writer of paranormal fiction, is her ability to make her characters' emotions and actions ring true, thereby making them and the rest of her universe seem very real (a quality she shares with another excellent writer, Patricia Briggs). She has a very light touch and her way of portraying Merit's pain and struggle is both sensitive and sympathetic, without resorting to heavy-handed melodrama or artificial toughness that is the trademark approach of too many paranormal books. Merit's relationship with Ethan has grown even more complex, and during the course of the book I found myself alternately wishing she would just realize how destructive their attraction was, and hoping that perhaps things would work out. I must say that I didn't like Ethan very much in this book, most of the time, but then there were moments that almost made it all worth it - which is exactly how Merit feels throughout the books. And, while it's difficult not to feel for Merit (another testament to Chloe Neill's excellent writing), and not to feel offended on her behalf for the way Ethan treats her most of the time, it's also impossible not to keep reading, not to keep wondering what will happen with their relationship, because honestly, anything can happen, which is another great things about these books.
"Friday Night Bites" is intelligently written and contains little actual "ass kicking" but much plotting and intrigue. There are many mysteries left to unravel. With every step the reader learns more of the complexities of the Chicagoland universe, and at the end of the book, is left longing for more. I for one can hardly wait for the third installment which comes out next year (too long a wait, if you ask me!). For those of you who haven't read the first book, I say please go out and buy it immediately. While Chloe Neill recaps the first book here, readers shouldn't skip reading it, especially for the sake of appreciating and relating to Merit's development and her emotional struggles. Please read both; I cannot recommend them highly enough.
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very Slow, October 26, 2010
This review is from: Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
I rarely write reviews, but I have no idea how this book got an overall 4.5 star rating from so many! This is a political soap opera set in a dorm/frat/sorority house that just happens to have vampires/shifters/witches as the main charachters instead of people. The few references to fangs coming out, silvering eyes, and magic are the only aspects of this book that are even remotely paranormal. If you are looking for action, romance, sensuality, and a plot that you want to get lost in, don't pick up this book; look up night huntress or anita blake instead. For me to love a book, it needs to have a plot that draws me in; one that I don't want to go to sleep so I can keep reading it. It needs to have some sort of tangled romance with at least a little sensuality. Last of all, it's gotta have some action!! It seems like the would be strongest points of this novel are not explored. Merit is Sentenial (defender) of her house and master, yet there are only 2-3 pages of the entire book dedicated to her fighting people? The fight scenes weren't even detailed!! The sexual tension between her and Ethan is clearly brought to our attention throughout the entire book, but nothing is ever acted upon. All they do is sarcastically banter with each other until the point where you want to punch them both! The plot and charachter development is pretty sub par as well - I really didn't find myself caring to find out who was causing the trouble or what happned to any of the charachters from beginning to the end. I just kept hoping for some vampire butt kicking or a hot makeout session until the end, but was sadly disappointed. This political drama with fangs set im a dorm hall did not impress me! I am returning it and the next installment to the library pronto.
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Entertaining!, October 6, 2009
This review is from: Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
Friday Night Bites is the second novel in the Chicagoland Vampires Series, and I cannot praise the author's imagination enough for creating this wonderful story for our enjoyment. It has all the elements that I love in a good urban fantasy: amazing heroine; excellent supporting cast; multidimensional antagonists; and a fascinating story line. In my opinion, the second book didn't just equal the excellence of the first, which is what very few new authors are able to achieve, but surpassed it. Here's why.
The plot of Friday Night Bites builds on the previous book, but there is enough back-story to fill in the holes for those who haven't read it. The hectic nature of Merit's job as a Sentinel of the Cadogan House and her roommate Malory's active love life with her boyfriend and Merit's instructor Catcher Bell both force her to a dreadful conclusion - she must move into the Cadogan House. As if her life was not difficult enough with the inability to finish her graduate work, having to reconcile to her new supernatural status, and learning how to defend herself and her house against older and stronger foes - she now has to deal with living in a house full of vampires whom either hate her or in the best case just distrust her. She is also pseudo-dating the newly elevated Master of the Navarre House, whose alliance is very tenuous based on previous history, and her unresolved feelings for her own Master Ethan make her life a pure hell. To add to this already explosive stew, a new danger is emerging for Chicago Vampires, threatening to expose the dark underbelly of vampiric society - raves. If the world, which has temporarily been soothed by the glamorous image the vampires presented, learns about the horrors of these hidden blood parties, a war will most certainly follow. Therefore, since the threat appears to come from one of Merit's childhood acquaintances, Ethan and Merit are forced to infiltrate the world of the Chicago's elite and further associate with Merit's estranged family. Oh and did I mention that Celina Desaulniers has been released by the Greenwich Presidium and Merit, having almost killed her, probably heads up her most wanted and hated list? What's a girl to do!
Not only was the story line action packed and beautifully executed, but the character development was truly spectacular in this book as well. Merit's character continues to grow and evolve as she learns more about herself and her new powers. She is finally beginning to realize and accept that her old life is forever lost to her. Furthermore, it was interesting to see how much her upbringing was ingrained in her and how quickly she was able to blend in with the rich and the famous. Ethan was also better explored in this book and we were able to learn more about his nature through numerous tidbits about his past. Merit and he spent the majority of the book together investigating the threat and their interactions and developing bond were both compelling and hilarious. Who knew that the boy had a sense of humor! We also got to finally meeting the Mayor Tate, who is he is bound to play a larger role in the future books, and got a quick glance at Gabriel, the shifter's Alpha. The conclusion was very satisfying and heartfelt (you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it), and I can't wait until the next installment in this phenomenal story.
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