By The Bel: Chloe Neill's - The Chicagoland Vampires" Series

Published April 7, 2012
Category: By the Bel

by Belinda Hamilton

You know when you’re looking for something a little different, something that might cleanse the pallet in preparation for heading back into your usual reading pattern? I always look in the returns trolleys at my local library for inspiration when this happens to me. The last time I went ‘treasure hunting’ I was blessed with the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill.

I had the first five books read within a fortnight, and I’ll be keeping an eagle eye out for the 6^th book in the series due out toward the end of the year.

So what’s all the kerfuffle about? ~without massive spoilers~

Being a 27 year old undergraduate trying to make a name for herself away from her social climbing parents was a hard enough life for Caroline Merit; until an attack on campus changed her life forever. Not only was she the target of a psychotic vampire’s plans to take over the world *add evil laughter and thunder here* but she was saved, and reborn, as a vampire by the head honcho of the 4^th oldest vampire house in the world; none other than one Ethan Sullivan.

We then spend the series following Merit through her transitions into becoming an ‘all that she can be’ uber vampire while she’s working to thwart the evil elements of the supernatural community.

There are huge amounts of martial arts and dialogue that should come with a choking hazard warning, it is seriously that funny. On top of it all there is a sexual attraction between Merit and Ethan that is sure to make you blush.

You’ll get to meet sorcerers, fairies, nymphs, shifters and loads of vampires. There are rich people and socialites to make Merit feel like a fish out of water and more than enough politics to keep her brain well oiled.

Merit’s relationships with each and every character are complex but totally relatable. I’d LOVE to have a girl’s night out with the Cadogan vampires at the Temple Bar.

I would have to say my favourite parts of this series are the food scenes. Neill’s vampires use blood as a supplement rather than a solitary food source. So Merit showing Ethan what he’s been missing out on whilst avoiding the Chicago food movement, had me giggling and craving all at the same time.

If you like Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Sherrilyn Kenyon; I guarantee you’ll get a kick out of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire Novels.

The books in order: