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Review: 62. Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill...

May 16, 2011
I love Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series, so is it any surprise I had to get my hands on Hard Bitten to find out what happens next?

hard bitten
Title: Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #4)
Author: Chloe Neill
ISBN-13: 9780451233325
eBook
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
I'll start by saying that if you haven't read Hard Bitten yet, please do yourself the favor of chomping at the bit for a few(!) more months. Drink Deep comes out later this year, and you will definitely want to--no, NEED to--read that as soon as you're done with this. Don't say you haven't been warned...

We start out with Cadogan House repairing the physical damage inflicted in Twice Bitten, but the psychological damage isn't quite so easy to take care of. The humans of Chicago are not so happy with their vampire neighbors--what with the violence of the attack, and now reports are surfacing of the raves where humans are disappearing--and have started staging protests. And when the humans aren't happy, the mayor's not happy either (elections and all that), and he's issued an ultimatum to Ethan: fix the problem or go to jail.

So Merit goes investigating, and does not like what she finds. The raves are big, loud, and violent. The Ombudsman's office is not receiving information from the Mayor's office. And somebody is using one of Celine's nom de guerres.

To make things just a wee bit more difficult for Merit and Ethan, the head of the Greenwich Presidium shows up, and delivers his own threat: cease investigating Celine or he'll place Cadogan House under receivership. Will the fun never cease?

This installment has a lot of Merit in it, which is awesome because I love Merit. Yes, even if she dog-ears her books. I like that her sassiness hasn't abated, even with all she's experienced. I like that she and Mallory are talking again. I like that she has at least one other romantic possibility in the wings--even if she's not interested (yet?). And I like that even though she still wants Ethan, she wants him on her terms, and isn't going to settle for less. I like Ethan here, too. He's much nicer when he's flirting and flattering. *grin*

Unfortunately, the fun and games don't last. As Merit goes deeper in her investigation, she uncovers a web of deceit so tangled that you won't believe who's involved. Chloe Neill paces things really nicely, adding in new characters (who'll show up in future installments, I'm sure) and throwing in plot twists that remain plausible even as they make your jaw drop. But she's an evil evil author for the last few chapters. Evil.

drey's rating: Excellent! Except for the ending, that is. But don't let that stop you from reading this series if you haven't yet. Start with Some Girls Bite...

Have you read Hard Bitten? What did you think?

11 comments:

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
I am in a book pickle over the last two books of this series. Any extra advise you may have for me would be gladly received. The thing is I don't like where the series may be going. I spend a lot of time with the characters in a book. I have enjoyed the series for the most part except for Twice Bitten. I could not get in to that one. However, I find myself wanting to read both books to find what happens and why. Here is the hang up I don't really want to spend ten bucks if I am going to be sorely disappointed by the new book. Take care my friend have a great week.
Steve

drey said...

Oh, bummer, Steve! Hmm... I guess I'd ask why you couldn't get into Twice Bitten, but to be perfectly honest, if you didn't then I would say wait till Drink Deep comes out before deciding whether you're taking the plunge on Hard Bitten. Does that make sense?

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
Thanks for your thoughts my friend. I have decided to reread Twice Bitten. I don't think I was in the mood for it the first time around. I have had an easier time today rereading the book. I don't think I will have a problem finishing it now. Take care
Steve

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
Woot,Woot I finished Twice Bitten and I enjoyed it very much. It is my favorite book of the series so far. Merit is growing into the vamp that she wants to become. It is so much fun to follow here through the series. I have decided to download Hard Bitten while I still have the storyline in my head. I may not be happy with Hard Bitten in the end or Chloe for that matter but I will finish the book. Have a happy and enjoyable weekend my friend. I hope it warms up a bit.
Steve

drey said...

:) You bring a smile with every comment, Steve! :) Glad you liked Twice Bitten. Now, don't say I didn't warn you about Hard Bitten. Then again, I wouldn't mind some company while waiting (anxiously) for the next one!!!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
consider your warning freely given and excepted. I would love to be in your company to wait for the next book. We will be in the same boat very soon. You bring the chips and Kleenex I will bring the Pepsi and chocolate cake. That is my kind of party. Something to ease the pain of Hard Bitten I read today that the second book of the Black Dust Mambo series comes out in June. Woot,Woot!! Can't wait for that one.
Take care my friend,
Steve

drey said...

lol! That sounds like a party alright! :)

Yes, Black Heart Loa is coming out at the end of June (pub. date is 6/28 on b&n). I've had the cover on my fb album for June releases ever since I found out... :)

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
I finished Hard Bitten. What a great book it was right up until the end. Yes, I hated the ending. I think it seriously undermines the flow of the story and the future of the series. Please e-mail me if you want to know why I think the way I do. I don't want to give anything away on your blog. Please help me here my friend, I don't think there was a cliffhanger at the end of the book. What do you think?? Other bloggers seem to think so I just don't see it. Sure there are unanswered questions about the series that fans like us will want resolved. I think Ms. Neill did a wonderful job in wrapping up most of those threads. She writes a really enjoyable story for the most part.

I did a blog search today for other reviews of Hard Bitten. One lady blogger is so angry at the end of the book that I am not sure she will pick-up the next book. However, if I were a betting man I would say that she would pick up the next book because she is in the middle of the series now.

I read another blog today about a quote from Ms. Neill on FB She wants her readers to "trust her."

I will be enjoying my Pepsi,chips and cookies until we speak again. I really enjoyed your comment about me hissing for awhile after I read this book. I had a good roll on the floor for some time. Thanks for that my friend.
Steve

drey said...

Feel free to email away, Steve!! Sorry I'm just getting caught up on comments, but I think I want there to be something that changes how this ending worked... Gah!! And yes, Chloe did say (multiple times!!) on fb to trust her. I guess I'm willing to give her a chance to prove this ending isn't the one that makes the series completely suck. Which I don't want it to--I <3 Merit!

wheels209 said...

Hey drey,
I just saw the cover for Drink Deep. Not bad all in all but my favorite cover is Friday Night Bites. That is how my minds eye sees Merit. Have a bang-up 4th(Grin). Take care my friend.
Steve

drey said...

I loved the cover for Twice Bitten, that's my favorite. :)

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