mitabird
Written on May 25, 2018
"A strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake." (Library Journal)Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire 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 have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...
Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. 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 both the vampires and humans.
- ISBN10 0451234863
- ISBN13 9780451234865
- Publish Date 1 November 2011
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Penguin Books Australia
- Imprint Signet
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 352
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451234865
Reviews
Chelsea
Written on Apr 8, 2017
littleread1
Written on Apr 2, 2014
Berls
Written on Jul 2, 2013
My Initial Reaction...
This series continues to be a favorite read for me. I was worried after the events of Hard Bitten that the series would fall apart- how could it survive the death of Ethan and the loss of the chemistry between him and Merit? How could it survive the death of it's chief adversary? Well this book does not disappoint.
The Narration...
For some reason I thought I had heard that with this book the narrator changes. Well I was wrong - it's still Cynthia Holloway and, since I thought it would be a new narrator, it was even more disappointing. At this point Holloway needs to go - I've patiently listened to five books now of no inflection and no voices, and I'm finally tired of it.
The Characters...
Merit is trying to pull herself together, because she's still Sentinel of Cadogan, a position she cherishes even more because Ethan gave it to her. Jonah, her potential RG partner and captain of the guards at Grey house, is working with her. He's helping her to continue developing her skills and to deal with the latest big bad hitting Chicago. I surprisingly did not miss Ethan very much during this book. Without Ethan there, Merit is standing up and growing into herself in ways I don't think she was able to do when Ethan consumed so much of her development. I never thought I'd say it, but he was holding her back! In Drink Deep Cadogan needs her, perhaps more than it ever has, and Merit seriously steps up to the plate. I loved seeing her passionately defending her fellow vampires.
Ethan is gone, of course, but he's deeply felt. His memory is everywhere, not to mention Merit's dreams on an almost nightly basis. And then there's Jonah. He's a really interesting contrast to Ethan. He's definitely interested in Merit and, while he's respecting her need for time, I see definite potential there. He's quickly becoming a favorite character for me, he's smart, strong, and I love the natural way he and Merit interact with each other. I hope we continue to see a lot of him in the series.
Mallory, another favorite character of mine, is going through her exams and it has turned her into a major stress ball. The way Neill writes Merit and Mallory's friendship was great, because if you've ever had an incredibly close friend that you will weather their mood swings still trying to be a good friend - then the way they're relating will feel so familiar. Merit knows she owes Mallory for how supportive she was during her transition to vampire and for her support when Ethan first died, so she's trying to be there for her - even when she gets bitchy. Which she does often.
The Story...
We pick up in Drink Deep two months after Ethan's death, with a broken Merit and mourning Cadogan House. The house is in major transition as all the leadership positions have shifted; Malik is in charge now, with Luke as his second. To make matters worse, the GP is moving forward with their investigation having sent a truly annoying man, who seems set not to investigate the house, but to bring it down.
And then there's Chicago. With Mayor Tate's removal and imprisonment (as a yet to be figured out magical creature) a new, not so vampire friendly mayor has taken over. Her antagonism is only amplified by the many mysterious natural disasters hitting the city; the vampires are everyone's favorite culprit, but they haven't a clue what's going on. So Merit, Jonah, and the Umbud's gang are all working to figure it out.
Concluding Sentiments...
Rather than falling apart, in my opinion, the mystery is more pronounced without the same antagonist to fall back on (though it was still fairly obvious to me) and new relationships bloom with Ethan out of the picture. For those who find vampire politics annoying, this book will be frustrating, since the politics are perhaps the most pronounced of the series thus far. I found it infuriating, but in the good way that ropes you in and makes you want to slap a few people. I highly recommend having the next book ready as this one leaves you eager for the next..
Get Drink Deep on Amazon
MurderByDeath
Written on Oct 24, 2012
Since this book reads almost as a 'to-be-continued', I'd recommend having the next book, Biting Cold, on-hand for continuous reading enjoyment.
Melanie
Written on May 7, 2012
Hixxup
Written on Nov 6, 2011
Cocktails and Books
Written on Nov 2, 2011
So while fighting with the edicts and rules that Frankfuter, as Lindsay calls him, put into place (things like no junk food, rationing bagged blood, no feeding from fellow vampires, no concerning yourself with human interests and participating in ridiculous physical endurance challenges), Merit soon finds herself investigating what is causing Lake Michigan and the Chicago River to seemingly become lifeless, why the sky appears to be burning and why mounds of earth are suddenly thrusting upwards into the middle of Wrigley Field. If that weren't enough, we have ex-Mayor Tate still trying to wreak havoc from behind bars, the new mayor (with presidential aspirations) deciding it's time to crackdown on all the supernaturals in the city and force them to register all while McKetrick pulls the mayor's strings in hopes of some in sighting vampire genocide.
What Merit discovers is an ancient magic is being used to create the anomalies attacking the city. It's now up to Merit, along with Jonah, Catcher and her grandfather, to try and figure out who on their list of possible suspects is responsible and stop them before vampires are wrongfully accused of creating the issue. But as they get closer to finding the person (or persons) responsible, Merit finds herself looking a little to close to home and learning the devastating effects of addiction.
Merit has to deal with a lot in this installment of the Chicagoland Vampire series. There's the receiver, who seems out to get her and pretty much destroy the house, her decision on whether or not to join the RG based on what the GP is allowing to be done to Cadogan House and then there is the after effects of Ethan's death and the nightmares keep Ethan in the forefront of Merit's mind. She has a pretty full plate before you add any of the other supernatural business.
Merit inner circle is changing too in this installment, which also piles onto her already overflowing plate.
Jonah, Guard Captain for Grey House (and he would be RG partner), becomes a huge ally for Merit. He wants more than friendship from her, but he knows she's still dealing with the fallout from Ethan's death. For now, he'll settle for partners. And he's a good partner, helping Merit when she needs it and knowing when to back off.
Mallory is beginning her sorceress testing with Simon. While Mallory seems "off" and extremely stressed, Merit chalks everything up to the testing. But certain events happen that has Merit questioning what Mallory is doing. Mallory is in a really bad place (I won't say more...you must read the book).
If Mallory is in a really bad place, than you probably don't want to be where poor Catcher is. Considering his job and the things that are going on in Chicago, you figure he's probably already stressed because of work. But then you add the insecurity of his relationship with Mallory and him being convinced that Simon is poisoning Mallory's mind against him and you have a very, very, very unhappy Catcher. It's no wonder he snapped at Mallory every time she called.
The ending is a bit "cliffhangerish" but nothing like Hard Bitten. I think what transpires in the last chapter will negate the cliffhanger. It does leave questions, of which I have many but can't post because then I will give away the last chapter, but I will pose this one. If the trip to Omaha doesn't go as planned, what kind of ripple effect with that have for Merit and everyone else in Chicago?
Linda
Written on Nov 1, 2011
I am not at all a happy camper! The first three books were amazing, but then, the next two really weren't.
I can still not understand WHY Ethan had to die at the end of the last book. And it was a stupid way to make him 'come back' it made a lot of things happening seem like plot devices - not really necessary for the story to move forward! And yes, it was good to see that Merit could do things on her own, but then again, she had Jonah as her new partner, and they were able to help each other out. Jonah is a stand-up, yummy vampire, and he deserves to be number one in someone's life! Merit obviously won't be able to give him that. Also, I totally abhorr love-triangles! And I don't see how there won't be one in the coming books! Jonah is in love with Merit, and Merit obviously has feelings for him! And they do have a connection. However, with Ethan back, of course Merit will be with him.
I can't say I'm not disappointed... There were a lot of different ways this same story could have unfolded - without some of the really bad drama that happened.