Blood Games: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

As I was reading this book it hit me again the difference between good authors and great authors. Great authors, IMHO, are great because they allow us to see into the daily lives and motivations of the characters. We learn more than just what we need to know about the plot, we learn what the characters are like as people. Ms. Neill does this so well that it is almost unnoticeable. Early on we have a conversation in the dining hall between Lindsey, Margot, Brody and Merit. No spoilers, nothing that moves the plot along, just 4 friends hanging out over breakfast. And I want to hang out with them, also. I care enough about these characters to want to just hang out with them, and that is what makes a great author.The plot is, as always in Chicagoland, a hot mess of people gunning for the house, murder in the city and emergencies only Merit can solve. Always entertaining, fast paced, interesting, villains you love to hate and supporting characters you love. Telling you anything more than the blurb would be spoiler-y, so I'm not going to do it - but if you have liked the previous books in the series you will love this book. (The only complaint is that I am getting tired of their being some angst in Ethan's and Merit's relationship in every novel. Enough already!)If you have not read the previous books, you need to read the series from the beginning. this is not a stand-alone.If you can't tell already, I loved this book!Would I read it again? Yes! Absolutely!

Just as things appear to settle down, at least as much as they can when you’re the Sentinel of a house that has not only broken away from the main governing body for vampires and the Master of your house has set down a challenge to take over that governing body, a murder occurs that appears to have a supernatural bent and Merit is asked to help out.I remember the day I found this series and while I had no intention of buying another book, I picked it up and have been in love with the series ever since. I love the humor and snark and this book does not disappoint. The other aspect that I love is bearing witness to Merit’s growth, not only as a vampire but as a person. She is not the same Merit we met in Some Girls Bite, which in the timeline of series was not that long ago. She’s taken all that she has experienced and learned from it all. Of course there are some areas of her life that she’s still working on, like dealing with her own family, but some things take more time to deal with.Then there is MEthan. Merit’s relationship with Ethan will never be easy, and it gets tested once more in this book, but as with Merit, their relationship grows. They learn to trust in each other as well as to understand when they need to step back just a little, even if it goes against what they really want to do.And of course there are the Ombuddies, Mallory aka Honorary Ombuddy, Lindsey, Jonah and Luc, as well as the rest of the cast of characters that surround Merit, who keep her on her toes and help get her through the crazy that continues to pop up in her life.There were quite a few surprises in this book for me, things that I didn’t see coming and I applaud Ms. Neill for those surprises and can’t wait to read the next addition to the series.

The main theme of this book seemed to be relationships. Romantic, political, strategic and even murderer to victim. Merit never has a lack of drama but Ethan challenging to lead all vampires brought even more than usual. Snark ensues.First off, I know a lot of other reviewers had issues with Ethan shutting Merit out during their arguments. It sucks, sure, but he was once human. He wasn't born knowing he'd live forever and he probably hasn't talked to a therapist. It makes sense he'd revert to old, solo patterns when put on the offensive by his past. We also know he hasn't had real relationships. Remember Amber the Consort? Our guy's charming as hell but still figuring a lot out.Merit really gets a ton of kudos for staying mature through most of Ethan's cold shoulder. A lesser writer would've thrown in Jonah or RG jealousy issues. Props to Neill on that. And we dig deep into Ethan's past with visitors to boot. Remember, they've been together less than a year. Lots to learn beyond fighting style and food preferences.Merit and Jonah do have some modern fun at a comic con. That was a nice touch reflecting on how public vampires would be adored by nerds. Also the Merit cosplay, hilarious.Lindsey and Mallory see some real action and Luc steps up as an equal and confidante for Merit. I really appreciated seeing the ramifications of Lindsay's empathic abilities. Usually they're just a throwaway joke.We have more fun with the nymphs, Catcher gets to be extra snarky, and the real police are more involved than usual. A serial killer imitating supernaturals is on the loose. In the middle of Ethan's vampire challenge an investigation is underway. He gets in the thick of it and we see vampire mercenaries at work. Pretty badass, if you ask me.Yes, the sexy times do return with a steamy, bloody vengeance. Worked really well for character development, which I doubly appreciated. Now let's see what's next for American vampires!

WOW if you are checking this out then you are a Paranormal reader . And this is one series you really need to check out . This read is amazing it grabs you right from the start and before you know it your finished the read and your left wondering when the next one is out so you can see what else the Chicagoland family have gotten there selves into .

Note: this is the 10th installment in the Chicagoland Vampire series and although story arcs are finished from time to time, others are started and go over more than one book. And even more important are the characters and their relationships that have developed over time. To sum it up: this is not a good place to start the series. And there will be spoilers for events in prior books. So if you're new to Chicagoland Vampires, I recommend you stop reading here and start with “Some Girls bite”.ReviewAh, there is no rest for Merit and her friends. But when Ethan announced his challenge for the presidency over the Greenwich Presidium [aka GP] in the last book, it was kind of obvious that consequences would follow. And in this book, they do. But not at all in the way, Merit and the rest of Cadogan House [or I] assumed. I can't really talk about the twists this particular thread takes, or it would be spoiling big time, but I can tell you that not a single event, not how the GP reacts, not how the events unfold and least not how it all turns out in the end, were anything at all that I saw coming. My mind was reeling and continued to until the last page. This was one fabulous written surprise, especially in a series being going on for so long already. It really never gets stale and that really is a feat in my book.The same is true for Merit as a person and her relationship with Ethan. I know of series that get boring after hero and heroine finally get together, but that so isn't true for these two. The obstacles they experience don't feel construed and I love reading how the tackle them [and each other, when they're at it]. Merit has grown a lot since she was initially bitten, but so has Ethan and still he is very clearly the hundreds of years old vampire. I think him awesomely well written and fleshed out. And although her friends outside the vampire community have not many appearances, I was happy to see Mallory behave like a friend for a change. To be absolved, she'll have to do more in my book, but it was a good start.Since one kind of trouble isn't enough in Merit's life as the Sentinel of her House and the granddaughter of the Ombudsman for Chicago's supernatural community, there is a serial killer on the loose, whom Merit and Jonah help to catch, lest the precarious peace between supernaturals and humans be lost again. They know the supernaturals make good scapegoats for all that goes wrong, so they are very motivated to solve the crime. And although I love how the case is built and how it all unfolds and stuff, this would me my [minor and only] complaint about this book: there are hints that point strongly into a certain direction, so I knew pretty early on that the killer would be found there. When Merit, Jonah and the “Ombuddies” and CPD let themselves get diverted from that lead by inconsequential problems, I rolled my eyes at the weak diversion. But then, this didn't really diminish my love for the story and how it unfolded, so it's still 4,5 stars from me – and I'm already excited for the next installment, “Dark Debt” in march 2015.

This book is totally amazing, Chloe has done it again.It follows Ethan on his quest to rule the GP.Of course it isnt all plain sailing in either there relationship or for the take over of the GP.This book has me laughing one minute and shouting at my kindle the next.Beautifully written , i love this series as it tackles one story at a time and does not leave a cliff hanger, howvever it does leave you wanting more.Roll on the release of Dark Debt .

Just awesome can't wait for the next one

I just Can't get enough of this Urban Fantasy series. This book is as solid as any in the series, and does not let down at all. By now, to the series reader, you know who and what everyone is and this book stays true to form.I see the next book is already being advertised as of Sept. 2014.....I can't wait. You go Cadogan House!