Please welcome Wendy, who brings you today’s Guest Review of… Biting Cold
Author: Chloe Neill
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2012
Publisher: NAL
Chicagoland Vampires #6
ISBN: #978-0451237019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
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About the book:
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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 nonhumans.
Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest to tail 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 artifact for himself
No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.
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What Wendy is talking about:
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I have to say, this book was nothing like I expected. When Drink Deep left off it seemed like the next book had a really clear direction: 1. Ethan was alive, 2. He and Merit were going on a road trip, 3. They were going to track down and protect the Maleficium (big book of evil) and 4. Hopefully capture Merit’s friend Mallory (who needs a serious “black magic” intervention). And don’t get me wrong, most of those things occur but somehow all of it is wrapped up by approximately page 86! I thought we might get a little fun, maybe a little romance, but noooo…. Ethan and Merit fly (literally) back to Chicago and dive right back into a new supernatural mystery and the same political issues the books have dealt with for a while.
There are now two Seth Tate’s (former evil Mayor of Chicago), one of whom is extra-evil and looking to dispense vigilante “justice” on the citizens of Chicagoland. While the vampires look for a way stop the evil twins they also have to manage the fall-out from Cadogan House’s run-in with the Greenwich Presidium.
About halfway through the book, I admit, I nearly gave up. Ethan and Merit still weren’t together and the book was bogged down with human and vampire politics (What will the GP do?! How will the new evil Mayor of Chicago come after Cadogan house?!). I was really starting to wonder if the over-arching stories were ever going to proceed. But… things took a turn for the better, I kept reading and was rewarded… finally!
I think fans of the series will breathe a big sigh of relief at a lot of the developments in this book. Merit has evolved into a strong character who takes care of herself and the people around her. Seeing her develop from whiny new vampire to true Sentinel of Cadogan House has been one of the pleasures of this series. In Biting Cold, Ethan finally learns to trust her skills and her instincts and it brings them together as lovers and partners. I can’t wait for the next installment!
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Wendy’s Rating:
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Enjoyed – strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
I almost couldn’t finish it either. this book did make up for a lot of past actions, but it’s still missing some of it’s earlier spark.