EARLY REVIEW: Midnight Marked (Chicagoland Vampires #12)

Midnight Marked (Chicagoland Vampires #12), by Chloe Neill
Publish Date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: NAL
Format: e-galley, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult PNR/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Merit is one of Chicago's most skilled vampire warriors; these days, she doesn't scare easily. But she and Master vampire Ethan have made a new and powerful enemy, and he won't give up until he owns the Windy City.

With his last plan thwarted, he's more determined than ever to watch Cadogan burn. Ethan has put the House's vampires on high alert, but their enemy will stop at nothing, including pitting vampire against vampire...

In this deadly game of cat-and-mouse, the stakes are life or death—and winning might mean sacrificing everything...

The Chicagoland Vampires series has been a staple on my TBR for a long time. It is one of a precious few go-to series whenever I need a paranormal romance or urban fantasy fix. So, it's hard for me to believe that, after this one, I will only be reading one more new book in this series before we have to say goodbye to these beloved characters for good. 

It's a good thing that Chloe Neill does not go quietly into the night. 

Things are, by no means, winding down for Merit and Ethan. In Midnight Marked, they continue to lock horns with the odious Adrian Reed who has hatched a new plan for Chicagoland's supernatural population. He's made this battle personal by threatening Merit and goading Ethan. And, I can honestly say, I've never hated a bad guy in this series more than this one. 

In addition to getting to the bottom of Reed's plan, there are a lot of other side stories playing out in Midnight Marked. Things between Merit and the Red Guard - and particularly her partner Jonah - are still not great, since she refused to spy on Ethan for them. I absolutely LOVE that Merit refuses to compromise her morals and her relationship with Ethan for anyone or anything. 

Reed's activities put the tentative alliance between Gabriel's shifters and Ethan's vampires to their greatest test yet. Any CLV book that includes a lot of Gabriel Keene is a good one, and there is plenty of him in Midnight Marked. Gabriel and Ethan both have good reason to be angry at one another in this case, and their situation is evidence that sometimes you have to make hard choices when you're in charge of so many others. I don't envy either of them (but I still love both of them).

The two biggest questions that fans have been dying to know answers to are, Will Ethan finally propose to Merit? and When will the prophecy about Ethan and Merit's child come to pass? Of course, I can't tell you if either of those questions are answered in Midnight Marked - you'll just have to buy the book and find out for yourself. But, I will say that both topics are discussed at length, both between Merit and Ethan and Merit and Mallory. 

Mallory - "My God, do I want to see Ethan facing his first loaded diaper. And, can you imagine him dealing with milk puke?"

Merit - "I think he'll be a good dad. I mean, for a four-hundred-year-old pretentious master vampire."

So, yeah - there's a lot going on. But, there's tons of action, lots of mystery solving, some awesome fight scenes, and - the best part - Ethan "Darth" Sullivan. For a vampire who was originally so hell bent on fronting for people in regards for his feelings for Merit, he certainly has gotten over all that. His words are so heart-meltingly romantic, it is impossible to not be reduced to a puddle of goo every time he opens his mouth.

"Fear, my Sentinel, is inevitable. It is one of our more important instincts. It keeps us alive. Fighting through the fear is a choice. That's the choice you've made since that April night one year ago. That's the choice you'll continue to make, because that's what's inside you. I love you, and I believe in you, more than I have ever believed in anyone. And it is absolutely terrifying."

I have my theories on what will play out in the final Chicagoland Vampires book. Waiting for it to come out is so bittersweet. I can't wait to find out what happens, and yet, I don't want it to get here, because then it will truly be all over. 

REVIEW: Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4)

Sacrificial Magic (Downside Ghosts #4), by Stacia Kane
Published March 27, 2012
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) READING, WRITING, AND RAISING THE DEAD

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

As Chess is drawn into a shadowy world of twisted secrets and dark violence, it soon becomes clear that she’s not going to emerge from its depths without making the ultimate sacrifice.

I cannot get enough of Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series. Each new book is more innovative, creative, emotional and impactful than the one before it. And, Terrible... I mean, what can I really say about this hero that comes close to doing him justice? Prepare for a bit of fangirling and babbling. 

In Sacrificial Magic, Chess' newest case from the Church takes her back to school. A school in Slobag's territory has reported a haunting and, after the first debunker assigned to the case flakes and runs off, Elder Griffin passes it off to Chess. Unfortunately, that means she'll be spending lots of time on Lex's side of town, which is what she does NOT need now as she's trying to rebuild Terrible's trust in her. To make Chess' plate even fuller, there are other ritualistic murders being committed on Bump's side, and it looks like a snitch in his ranks is partially responsible, and Bump wants her to get to the bottom of it. 

We've slowly had a picture of Chess and her past painted over the course of the last three books in the Downside Ghosts series. We know now that she was passed around from foster home to foster home, and horribly abused in most of them - mostly by the men. Chess has learned to rely only on herself and her pills and that has served her well. Until Terrible entered her life. Now, she's in love and while it should be a completely wonderful thing, it instead has heaped stress in spades upon her life. 

Chess has to come to terms with the fact that she gives a crap about someone. She's never cared about anyone before. Not even herself. Hell - probably least of all herself. But, she loves Terrible fiercely, and Chess doesn't know what to do with all those feelings. She over-analyzes everything Terrible says and does to the point where it all gets twisted in her brain to some unrecognizable version of the truth. She second-guesses herself all the time. Should I tell him I love him? Should I touch him now? Would he want me to? Should I call him, or will that seem too needy? OMG - it was sad and painful to read how little credit Chess gives herself. 

And, Terrible - man, I love him to pieces. But, the dude is not a conversationalist. And, honestly, sometimes I think he's not much better than Chess at all this relationship stuff. Together, they're like the blind leading the blind, and it makes for some seriously tense situations. Not to mention the fact that Terrible is still trying to come to terms with Chess' prior relationship with Lex and her ongoing friendship with him. Lex is always the elephant in the room. Chess and Terrible have some horrible fights and say some awful things to one another before they finally cut through the crap and are truly honest with one another. Those fights made my heart hurt. But, the making up... now that was one of my favorite parts. ;)

The thing that I think amazes me the most about these books is the flawlessness of the worldbuilding. I am in awe of Stacia Kane's storytelling abilities. She has made Downside explode to life with these vivid characters and interesting mythology. The Downside lingo is so awesome - it just adds to the complexity and seamlessness of the rest of the world. 

In what I'm seeing is typical Downside fashion, Chess starts out working two separate cases - one for the Church and one for Bump - and somewhere along the way, she discovers they're connected. There were twists and turns and surprises along the way. I love being surprised, and it happens in every one of these books. 

After the dust settles from the final showdown, it's clear that things are going to change in Downside. The real question is, how much, and how will it all affect Chess and Terrible? I know that currently there is one more book out - Chasing Magic. The best news ever appeared on Stacia Kane's website earlier this month - not only are Downside #6 AND #7 a go (!!!), but so is another Terrible novella (!!!!!!!!!!). OMG - that is the best news ever. I can't wait to find out if Chess can at least lessen her addiction to drugs and if she can pull herself out of her own head long enough to realize that Terrible and she are each others' end games. If you haven't started this dark urban fantasy series yet, you now have plenty of time to get all caught up before the story continues again. What are you waiting for?!

REVIEW: Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6)

Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6), by Darynda Jones
Published May 20, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Few things in life can come between a grim reaper and her coffee, but the sexy, sultry son of Satan is one of them. Now that Reyes Farrow has asked for her hand, Charley Davidson feels it's time to learn more about his past, but Reyes is reluctant to open up. When the official FBI file of his childhood abduction lands in her lap, Charley decides to go behind her mysterious beau’s back and conduct her own investigation. Because what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, another case has fallen into her lap—one with dangerous implications. Some very insistent men want Charley to hunt down a witness who is scheduled to testify against their boss, a major player in the local crime syndicate. If Charley doesn't come up with an address in 48 hours, the people closest to her will start to disappear.

Add to that a desperate man in search of the soul he lost in a card game, a dogged mother determined to find the ghost of her son, and a beautiful, young Deaf boy haunted by his new ability to see the departed as clearly as he sees the living, and Charley has her hands full. The fact that Reyes has caught on to her latest venture only adds fuel to the inferno that he is. Good thing for Charley she's used to multi-tasking and always up for a challenge…especially when that challenge comes in the form of Reyes Farrow.

I love the Charley Davidson series. The books are always entertaining, there's one hell of an alpha sex god in them, and, since I always seem to listen to these books in audio format, I can say that the narration is always so perfect. #LoreleiKingRocksMySocks

One of my favorite things in this book is the relationship Charley and Cookie have. They are the bestest friends of any friends I've ever read about. I truly believe they would die for one another if it came down to it. Charley is like a second mom to Cookie's daughter Amber, and that shows in spades in Sixth Grave on the Edge. I love the motherly figure Charley presents when the situation calls for it. 

Reyes is just the hottest of all hot males. My favorite moments in Sixth Grave on the Edge were when Charley's life was in danger and Reyes shows up in all his incorporeal, dark sexiness to save her. We got to see the softer side of Reyes in this book. He's trying to get Charley to say yes. He's trying to get her to move in with him. He loves her and loves taking care of her. Reyes was amazing in this book. We saw him "son of Satan" angry, frustrated, tender, worried, snarky, and sweet. 

Charley, on the other hand, I take issue with. Seriously - the snark needs toned down a lot. There were some serious things that went down in this book, not least of which is that the man she loves (but has NEVER TOLD HIM SO) has asked her to marry him, and she decides it would be more fun to string him along than to just say yes, which she admits is a foregone conclusion. I don't understand why she has to play games all the time with people she cares about. Cookie and Ubie are another example. She screwed with their lives too, and even when it was clear that neither party would be cool with it, Charley forged ahead anyway. 

The snark and silliness is definitely one of the best things about this series. It's also one of the worst. Snark at an appropriate time and in measured doses is perfect and makes an interesting character AMAZING. Constant jokes at inappropriate times reduces the legitimacy of the characters' motivations and is just plain irritating. Charley is blackmailed by a very upset cop who doesn't like her. He spends time setting her up to look like a drug dealer and threatens to fabricate more charges if she won't do what he wants. What does Charley do? Jokes about kiddie porn. Really?? I wanted to scream. 

There was a lot going on in Sixth Grave on the Edge. There is the story of Reyes' real family and who they are. There is getting to the bottom of Angel's real story. There's the naked guy in Charley's car. There's the letter that threatens Charley's loved ones if she doesn't find a witness in a federal case. There's Rocket and Garrett and their predictions. There's the introduction of a new character named The Dealer. There is Charley's dad and whatever is going on with him (what ever happened to that story line, anyway??). And, there is the mysterious Mr. Wong and who he really is. Honestly, it was a lot to keep up on, and I did get a little confused at times with which characters went with which story line. 

I know it sounds like I'm highly disgruntled. Eh - it's more like, slightly disgruntled. I still love the series and fully intend to keep reading. There were a TON of loose ends left untied, including a major end-of-the-world prophecy, that I can't wait to see get tied up. I just really, really hope that in Seventh Grave and No Body, Charley learns to temper the snark with some seriousness.
 

REVIEW: Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7)

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7), by Patricia Briggs
Published March 5, 2013
Publisher:  Ace
Format: audiobook, borrowed from the library
Genre:  urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

Finally - Mercy is back! I must admit, after the last two books in the series, I was feeling a little disenfranchised. I mean, the books were still good, but they really seemed to be missing that spark that the first few books had. But, with Frost Burned, the spark is back, and it's hotter than ever.

I think a lot of why I loved this book so much more than the past two is because of the presence of the pack. You know, initially werewolves weren't really my thing. I thought - how can dogs be sexy? But, awhile back I changed my mind, and I think werewolves are my new favorite supe. I think it's because of the pack aspect. There's something so awesome about a bunch of people who stick closer together than family, always helping each other out to the point of risking their lives for each other.

The pack aspect is alive and well and so strong in Frost Burned. When Adam and the rest of the pack go missing for no apparent reason, Mercy uses her bond to the pack in ways that they have never been used before. It was exciting and I found myself totally cheering Mercy on from my car seat.

Can I just say... how did I not know that Frost Burned was a dual POV? I just about lost my stuff when Adam started talking. I mean, how cool was that?!

I just love Adam's and Mercy's relationship. They love each other and support each other so much. I also love Warren's and Kyle's relationship. What a hoot Kyle is - I love that we got to see so much more from him in this book than in previous ones.

Mercy is exploring her newly discovered Coyote's Daughter abilities, and that is super fun to see. Her ability to "see" magic comes in handy several times, especially at the end during the epic final battle. It's a really cool twist to make Mercy evolve and not grow stagnant as a character. I totally buy it all. Patricia Briggs is a genius for doing this.

Most of our old friends make an appearance in Frost Burned - Tad, Zee, Gabriel, Stephan. There were two very distinct characters who were completely MIA - Samuel and Bran. I was so disappointed that they didn't even make a cameo appearance. Hopefully that means that we'll see tons of them in the next book.

Frost Burned was exactly what I needed to reinvigorate my love of the Mercy Thompson series.