The Chicagoland Vampires series holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. It was one of my first auto-buy series when I started reading urban fantasy. I used to go to Barnes and Noble as soon as it opened on release day to get my copy and spend the entire day with Merit and the gang. My ritual has changed a little over the years but I still devour the books in one sitting. The characters feel like old friends and the city of Chicago actually is an old friend. (I used to live there.)
So I'm sad that Midnight Marked is the second-to-last book in the series, but I'm excited to be part of the blog tour to celebrate its release. Check out my review and don't miss the TWO great giveaways afterward.
Midnight Marked
(Chicagoland Vampires #12)
Chloe Neill
Release: March 1, 2016
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As the Chicagoland Vampires series continues, Merit and Ethan find themselves in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, where winning may require the ultimate sacrifice...Review:
A vampire’s grudges don’t stay dead long...
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...
Midnight Marked has everything I love about the Chicagoland Vampires series. There's a visit to a Chicago landmark - this time it's Wrigley Field, which I loved just as much as Merit. There's girl talk with Mallory, the queen of TMI. There's an event that requires Merit to wear a fabulous couture gown. There are vampire sexy times - one of them even in the amazing Cadogan library. And there's plenty of Merit kicking ass.
But there's also a brand new plot to take over Chicago which brought back a character from the first book in the series. I hadn't even realized that particular loose end was out there, but I liked the idea of tying it up. Some of Merit's other unresolved issues with her family and her exes also seem to be getting resolved as she moves toward what is hopefully her HEA in the next book.
I also liked the introduction of a new type of magic which gave Paige, the magical archivist introduced in Biting Cold, something to do. She's been around this whole time but hasn't seen much time on the page. Neill also introduced a new magic user, a necromancer who defies all the stereotypes. I'm curious about how she might play into a future plot. And I got to see Berna, who runs Little Red and is one of my favorite characters. (I'm hoping there's a Chicagoland Shifters series in the works where I get to see her more often.)
The only thing that bothered me about Midnight Marked isn't actually specific to this book. Merit's just celebrated her one year anniversary as a vampire, a fact she mentions several times. I just can't wrap my head around so much happening in a year. Not only in terms of how many battles she's fought, though one Big Bad a month certainly seems excessive, but in how much her relationships have developed in that time. And once I start thinking about it, I start looking for continuity problems. Merit references a movie and I had to go look up whether she could have seen it if it's still 2010. It turns out she could, in that particular case, but those things take me out of the moment.
Still, this series is one of my Happy Places and I loved to be back in it. I'm curious about what's left for Merit and the gang to accomplish. It's not obvious from the ending, though are still unresolved issues with more than one group of supernaturals. As much as I want them all to find their Happy Places, I'm going to be sad to see the series end.
Recommended for fans of: Methan and sword-wielding heroines
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
4 1/2 stars
Our reviews of other books in this series:
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
Blood Games
Our reviews of other books in this series:
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules
Biting Bad
Blood Games
We have a copy of The Veil along with a Devil's Isle bookmark and screen wipe, plus some great Chicagoland Vampires swag including a Cadogan House mini-pennant, Cadogan House tote bag, bookmarks, a pen, and a Cadogan House keychain.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter the Midnight Marked Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs February 11 through March 4 on Chloe’s web site.
The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter the Midnight Marked Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs February 11 through March 4 on Chloe’s web site.
What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?
Engraved Cadogan House medal pendant
Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago package, featuring hot dogs, pizza, and cheesecake
$25 Amazon gift card
Tote bag containing Chicagoland Vampires and Devil’s Isle Swag
Check out the rest of the stops on the tour:
Week One
Monday, February 22 – Booklovers for Life | Snoopy Doo’s Book Reviews
Tuesday, February 23 – Fallen for Books | The Book Whisperers
Wednesday, February 24 – Bad Bird Reads | Wild Wordy Women
Thursday, February 25 – StarCrossed Book Blog | Rantings of a Reading Addict
Friday, February 26 – BiblioJunkies | Love Laughter Foreverafter
Tuesday, February 23 – Fallen for Books | The Book Whisperers
Wednesday, February 24 – Bad Bird Reads | Wild Wordy Women
Thursday, February 25 – StarCrossed Book Blog | Rantings of a Reading Addict
Friday, February 26 – BiblioJunkies | Love Laughter Foreverafter
Week Two
Monday, February 29 – Rabid Reads | The World of Francesca
Tuesday, March 1 (Release Day) – Goldilox and the Three Weres | Saucy Wenches |Literary Escapism | Vampire Book Club | YA Reads
Wednesday, March 2 – Consummate Reader
Thursday, March 3 – Urban Fantasy Investigations | Fangirls Read It First
Friday, March 4 – Paranormal Haven | My Paranormal Kink
Tuesday, March 1 (Release Day) – Goldilox and the Three Weres | Saucy Wenches |Literary Escapism | Vampire Book Club | YA Reads
Wednesday, March 2 – Consummate Reader
Thursday, March 3 – Urban Fantasy Investigations | Fangirls Read It First
Friday, March 4 – Paranormal Haven | My Paranormal Kink
Thanks for the fun peek. Can't wait to start reading.
ReplyDeletei can't believe this series is soon completed, i will miss Merit for sure
ReplyDeleteI got my ebook last night, can't wait to start it today!
ReplyDeleteGlad this came out this week so I can have it done in time to start Fire Touched and Marked in Flesh next week.
ReplyDeleteGlad this came out this week so I can have it done in time to start Fire Touched and Marked in Flesh next week.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to start reading this!!!
ReplyDeleteLove this series!! *grabby hands*
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway & Happy Tuesday!
//Linda
I am looking forward to this book. I can't believe its almost over.
ReplyDeleteI adore this series! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!! ♥
ReplyDeleteI love this series. So sad it's almost over
ReplyDeleteI love this series!
ReplyDeleteI love everything Chloe Neill writes!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great series. Sad to see it end.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great series. Sad to see it end.
ReplyDeleteLove love love this series!! Got it on audio, but have one or two other releases from today and last Tuesday to catch up on first!!
ReplyDeleteThis seems really cool.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to start this one! Awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI just got my book today and I seriously cannot wait to read it! This is one of my all time favorite series and I'm so sad that it's almost over. Sad, but glad that Merit and the crew are finally getting their HEA, they all deserve it.
ReplyDeleteNew to the series can't wait to start from Book 1 and work my way to this one.
ReplyDeleteI so love this series. Merit is awesome. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteGreat series and I'm excited for the book!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone who stopped by and commented on our blog tour post!
ReplyDelete-Gretl