Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5) by Chloe Neill

Drink Deep 
(Chicagoland Vampires #5)
Chloe Neill
Release date: November 1, 2011
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Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.
That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.
Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for vampires and humans alike.

If you have not read the previous four books in this series, hold off on reading this review.

How on earth am I going to write the review for this book? This will be a tricky review, so stay with me people.

"I stood in front of the double doors to his apartment for just a moment, before pressing my palm to the door and my forehead to the cool wood. God I missed him."

We all know that this series took a tumultuous turn in book three, Hard Bitten. And, unfortunately, I cannot give you the answers you need to the questions I'm sure most of you are wondering most, with drool coming out of your mouths and landing on your keyboards. Know that this is a great book and one of my favorites in the series so far, if not my favorite. Also, know that Neill said to trust her, and, if you do, you will understand. With that said, let's get on with it!

Drink Deep begins a couple months after the intense conclusion of the last book. I thought the title of this book was a little silly (Drink Deep? Way to open yourself to some inappropriate comments...), however the quote at the beginning of the story explained the title:

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep or taste not the Pieran spring..." - Alexander Pope

This quote does in fact sum up the important aspects of the book. The story in this one gets a little darker on every page and I think this one is more emotional and surprising than the others (yes, even that last one). The main plot involves some strange changes in the landscape of the Chicago area. Its clear that these changes are of a supernatural origin and each is worse than the last. Merit and the 'crew' run around spinning their wheels for most of the book trying to figure out what the heck is going on. The story is good, and the conclusion is even better (its better than better...it's SHOCKING!).

There are some characters in this book that step up to the plate and show their loyalty and goodness, while there are some others that just plain fall apart. I can't really tell you which characters fall into which category without giving away spoilers. Frank Cabot, the 'receiver' placed in the House by the GP, is completely awful. I hate him at every turn (we're supposed to hate him, of course) and he drives me crazy (think Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter). Its clear he is not acting in the best interest of the House, rationing the amount of blood the vampires can have, restricting the number of vamps that can be together at a time, etc.

This book is also very Jonah heavy. I haven't been sure of my opinion of him in previous books, but I grew to like him in this one. He really had Merit's back and he understands her, even when he doesn't want to. Its clear that he is attracted to her, but respects the state she is currently in. Merit battles a little with her feelings, given what she's been through, and I am anticipating where their friendship/relationship/partnership will go in future installments. I like Jonah a lot, but, let's face it, he's not Ethan (I said the 'E' word!).

"Magical novelty or not, this sounded like a complication I didn't need. And yet, every movement of his fingers sent shivers down my spine and shut off the part of my brain that should have been thinking better."

Merit is a heroine I really like. She doesn't make some of the stupid decisions that some other writers give their lead ladies, and I fully appreciate that. She is a very relatable, kick-ass, katana wielding, bangs wearing vampire (Why is there always so much mention of her bangs?). I gave this book four stars instead of five because I always feel like the writing style doesn't mesh well with me. That's my personal opinion of course, and I still LOVE the stories Neill tells, but I always feel like I'm reading YA with adult characters.

Okay, November 1st will be here soon and we can all finally talk about this book! Until then, in the words of Chloe Neill..."Trust me".

And in the words of Merit, "Big girl panties," I quietly reminded myself. "Big girl panties".

*My early copy of this book was provided by New American Library. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

4 / 5 stars

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to share what we bought, checked out, swapped, or won. IMM is hosted by The Story Siren.

New for me this week:

From Netgalley:

    
Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell
Dearly, Departed (Dearly #1) by Lia Habel
Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

So Netgalley became by favorite place ever this week when they seemed to have every YA paranormal/fantasy book I've been thinking about reading! If you have an e-reader, go there now. Go!

Book tour:

The Veil by Cory Putman Oakes

I received this book this week for the tour provided by I Read Banned Books. I'm reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm on now, and my review will be up soon! The synopsis for this intrigued me and I've read some good reviews so I'm excited to read it!

Received:

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

Received an ARC of this book this past week! Guess its YA week for Goldilox! I've been on a bit of a YA kick (which is unusual for me...) since I'm finishing the Vampire Academy series. Bring on the young adults!

Okay, I showed you mine. Now show me yours! What did you get this week?

Follow Friday (9)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Here is this week's question:

If you could have characters from a particular book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a particular TV series, which would you choose and why?

Finally, an easy one I know the answer to! I would have the characters from the Twilight series (book version), the characters from the Vampire Diaries (TV version), and the characters from the Sookie Stackhouse series/True Blood series (What the hell, I'll take em all!). 

They would be real and live in a town called Goldiloxville where I would be queen! All the hotties (Edward, Jacob, Damon, Stefan, Jeremy, Eric, Bill, Quinn, Alcide........) would fall on my every word and I could help solve all those damn pesky supernatural mysteries that seem to plague all these characters! Vampire Caroline would be my bestie, and Damon and Eric would be my love triangle.

-Sigh- A girl can dream..........

Waiting on Wednesday (8) - Everneath

Waiting on Wednesday is a feature hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine that shares the upcoming releases we bloggers are on the edge of our seats about!

 

Everneath

(Everneath #1)

by Brodi Ashton

Release date: January 3, 2012

(Synopsis from Goodreads) 

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

I have so many questions about this book based on the synopsis...Why does she only have 6 months? Why does Cole follow her to the mortal world? How did she get away from Everneath? Stories where there is some kind of time limit provide so much tension to the story. I <3 it!

Fortunately, this book is on its way to me right now! So I won't have to wait very long.  :)  Unfortunately, it can't come fast enough!!!

What is YOUR WoW pick?

Guest Post on Paranormal Wastelands

Happy October everyone! I just wanted to share that my guest post on Paranormal Wastelands went up today! I am participating in their Zompacolypse 2011 (as you might have guessed from the badge under Upcoming Giveaway Hops) and part of that means they post a review of mine! I chose to share my review of My Life As A White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland because its about ZOMBIES!!! Very fitting, right? So go on over there and check out my guest post. They even gave me a super rockin' costume (you'll see what I mean...)!!!

Here's the link to my guest post: My Life As A White Trash Zombie: Review by Goldilox.

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme to share what we bought, checked out, swapped, or won. IMM is hosted by The Story Siren.

New for me this week:

From New American Library and Penguin:

  

These are both early finished copies that I was SUPER excited to receive! I had written a long time ago asking about Drink Deep, and the publisher threw in Last Breath! My review of Drink Deep will be up soon!!! Thanks so much to NAL and the Penguin Group!

Won:

I won Damned from Sara over at Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog! This is actually an ARC so that's even more exciting!

Here's the rundown:

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5) by Chloe Neill 

Last Breath (Morganville Vampires #11) by Rachel Caine
Damned (Crusade #2) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Okay, I showed you mine. Now show me yours! What did you get this week?

Follow Friday (8)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Here is this week's question:

If you could pick one character in a book, movie or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

Okay, first and foremost my television answer is Elena from Vampire Diaries. Good lord, have you seen Stefan and Damon? How can a girl go wrong? I just recently became aware of this show's awesomeness (I had avoided it because I thought it would cheesy and too teenagery - which it is NOT) and this is now one of my favorite shows on television!

Now, my book answer. I love Eugenie's abilities in Richelle Mead's Dark Swan series. And I LOVE Dorian so that's a win-win. I also think Merit in Chicagoland Vampires has an interesting situation. I mean, if you're going to be a vampire, might as well live in a fraternity house of vampires that don't drink from humans and be governed by hot Ethan, right?

Talked about in this post:

   

October Giveaway Hop - The Hop For Red October!

The Hop For Red October

Let the October-ness begin! This is my first of three giveaway hops this month! This one is hosted by Fangs, Wands, and Fairy Dust. After entering, please scroll to the linky at the bottom and check out everyone else's wonderfulness! Here is what I'm giving away:

The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1) by Amanda Stevens


"Never acknowledge the dead. Don't look at them, don't speak to them, don't let them sense your fear."

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

This is a wonderfully creepy paranormal read and has received wonderful reviews so far! It's on my list of must-reads for the month of October, so of course I had to offer a copy to all of you!

Here's the deal:

ONE winner will receive a copy of The Restorer. This giveaway is US and international  as long as you live somewhere Book Depository ships! You must be a follower and you must be 18 or older to enter.

Fill out the Rafflecopter form and you're good to go! Good luck, and please check out the other giveaways offered on this hop!

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

" 'I don't care what you've heard. I do not kill people for money!' Much. Anymore." (Liv)

Well, Rachel Vincent, that's three series you've got me hooked on now. What else do you have up your sleeve?

Blood Bound is an amazing and unique story that grew on me more and more until the very last page. I immediately liked the heroine, Liv Warren. She was strong, independent, and totally screwed up. Her secrets unfolded slowly throughout the story and just when I thought I knew everything about her something else would come to light. Both Liv and Cam are messed up from not only what happened in their past, but the line of work they both are in. They are both equally gritty and unafraid to get their hands dirty. Even though they are the good guys, they are not always the good guys. Cam took a little longer to grow on me. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because we don't read from his point of view quite as much as from Liv's.

Yes, the POV changes in this book. Don't cringe and run away, it's okay! I was not a big fan of the switching, however I appreciated the reasons for it and I liked the opportunity to see Liv through Cam's eyes sometimes. Cam has his own secrets and those surface just as slowly as Liv's. Liv and Cam were once a couple in love, but Liv made a run for it and never explained to Cam why she left. He has kept himself close to her, but with a mutual friend asking for both of their help in finding her husband's murderer they are forced to actually work together. Of course, tension and angsty questions ensue.

“Her mouth was open, as if she wanted to say something, and I wanted to kiss her to show her that sometimes you don't need words. Sometimes they only get in the way, and you end up talking yourself out of things you need. People you want.” (Cam)

Of course a major part of the book is the feisty relationship between Liv and Cam and as the story continued I liked them together more and more and wanted them to get over whatever the heck was going on that was keeping them apart!

The world Vincent has created is really the biggest star here. Once again, she has taken some elements that may have been used elsewhere and twisted and turned them until they were her own. The paranormal element here is the Skilled. Some people are born with special talents and abilities and these can be passed on hereditarily. It is known that these abilities exist, but the government has chosen not to recognize them. Liv and Cam are both Trackers. They can track a person down based on a blood sample or a name. The fresher the sample or the more parts of the name, the better. Other Skills include being a Traveler (able to travel through shadows), a Reader (able to tell if someone is telling the truth), a Seer (able to see visions of the future), and many others that I will leave for you to discover as you read. I love love love how Vincent takes these elements and winds them together. She doesn't try to explain the Skills with another paranormal or fantasy element, she is content to just let them be.

Read this one!

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

"I'm not Ariel Dragland. My name is Juliet, and I've spent centuries jumping in and out of other people's bodies, fighting for true love, trying to save soul mates from Romeo, the man who killed me. Yes, that Juliet. That Romeo. He's in Dylan's body. And I'm only borrowing Ariel's body for a short time. Then I'll be gone, and the soul who really lives here will take my place, and no matter what she remembers, she'll never love you the way I do. Never."


       Juliet Immortal is a unique reimagining of the famous Romeo and Juliet story. Author Stacey Jay creates an alternate version of the tale, one where Romeo killed Juliet for the chance at immortality offered by a group called the Mercenaries. As she lay dying, Juliet was offered the opportunity at the same eternal life, only her offering came from the Ambassadors of Light, the enemy of the Mercenaries. The Ambassadors fight to unite soul mates by sending a spirit, such as Juliet, into the body of someone who is near the soul mates to bring them together. The Mercenaries’ job is to convince one of those soul mates to turn against the other and commit murder. Juliet and Romeo have been fighting on opposite sides for centuries, continually battling for the same souls.

      On this latest mission, Juliet finds herself in the body of Ariel Dragland. Ariel is an insecure loner, with one cruel friend and a distant relationship with her cold and harsh mother. Her life is not an easy one, and Juliet vows that when she leaves this body Ariel will return to a better life than the one she had before. However, Juliet experiences a hitch in her mission. She makes the biggest mistake an Ambassador can make…she falls in love with one of the soul mates she has been sent to unite with another. This body is not hers, and compromising the soul mates is absolutely forbidden. But Juliet cannot deny what she feels, and that seriously complicates things.

If I could use one word to describe Juliet Immortal, I would say unique. I loved how Stacey Jay took a story that has been retold a million different ways and totally turned it upside down. The heroine and narrator of this story is Juliet (with the occasional interruption by Romeo) and I found her to be strong, relatable, and realistic. She is not an idealistic warrior of love, but rather someone who was betrayed by her lover and husband and was offered the chance to foil him for the next seven hundred years. She battles inwardly with her job as an Ambassador, not really believing that she is completely cut out for the job. Romeo is deliciously evil and manipulative throughout the book, and I could really feel the disgust Juliet felt for him as I was reading.

      My favorite aspect of this story was the relationship between Juliet and her forbidden love interest. It was a little disappointing that it was one of those “love at first sight” things, however Juliet doesn’t really have all the time in the world in Ariel’s body, so the attraction had to happen quickly I suppose. Ben thinks she is beautiful and strong and his feelings for her are so pure that I liked him immediately. The two have quite a bit to overcome, however, and I loved the turmoil I felt while reading their love story.


"I want to reach for him, hold him, whisper into the warm crook of his neck that everything is going to be okay, that I'll make it that way. But I don't. Because I can't. Because that whisper would be a lie. And because I know if I touch him again, I might forget who I'm not."


      There were a few hiccups for me while reading Juliet Immortal. As much as I loved this story, I felt like there wasn’t enough information given about the Ambassadors of Light and the Mercenaries. There are many gaps in what we are told about them and the information we do have is very vague. I wanted to know more about who they are and where they came from. Perhaps that will be developed more in the next book (which Jay is currently working on). I also was not into the ending. It was wrapped up just a little too neatly for my taste. And the ending came so quickly and out of nowhere really, that I was even a little confused about what in the world happened.

      So, with all that said, I really loved the story despite a few minor flaws, and I cannot wait to read the sequel! Juliet Immortal was romantic and I liked Juliet a lot more than I was prepared for. I think she is a strong, if flawed, heroine for a YA book and I like to see that.

*I received my copy from Book Divas.