Hard Bitten: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel (Chicagoland Vampires, #4)

by Chloe Neill

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals - and they're camping outside Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Behind its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense, to say the least. But they have to work together when the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting: there's been a violent vampire attack which has left three women missing. The mayor's message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it's not easy when she can't tell who's on her side. So she goes outside Cadogan House, secretly calling in a favour from someone who's tall, dark, and part of an underground vamp group which might be able to shed some light on the attack. It's not long before Merit finds herself in the dark, heady heart of Chicago's supernatural society - which seems to be full of vampires ready to fulfill the human's worst fears. She's about to learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands ...

• ISBN10: 0575100184
• ISBN13: 9780575100183
• Publish Date: 12 May 2011 (first published 1 May 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Gollancz
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Chelsea]

My favourite thing about this series so far is how the author makes the vampires feel like an extension of humans. A dangerous extension of course but they still have very human problems. In this case that problem is drugs that make the vampires extra vicious. I also really love the mystery vibes in these books. Not only is it about vampires and other supernatural beings, but it's about Merit trying to solve all these crimes so that she can keep her house safe. It's a great mixture of the two genres!

[littleread1]

*blink blink* Oh fuck no - you don't get to leave me here.

*runs off to buy the next book*

[Berls]

Review appeared first at Fantasy is More Fun
My Initial Reaction...
Whoa. Did that just happen?? Ok so this book will shock the living daylights out of you by the end. I know I literally had to go back and listen again to make sure I heard right. Hard Bitten will entertain you from beginning to end - there's humor, action, and sexual tension galore - and then it will pull the rug out from underneath you. I'm still recovering...

The Narration...
If you've read any of my previous Chicagoland Vampires audio reviews, you know that I find Cynthia Holloway just tolerable as a narrator, a view that seems to be generous in comparison with many of the reviews I've read. She doesn't have the ability that great narrators have to bring characters to life beyond the written words, but in my opinion she also doesn't destroy the characters. I do hear that there's a new, better narrator starting with the next book and I look forward to the improvement.

The Characters...
Everyone is moving along pretty well considering the shapeshifters big reveal at the end of Twice Bitten, but surprisingly human feelings towards vamps hasn't really changed for the better - in fact, it seems to be getting worse, which means our favorite Sentinel is busy. Merit is really growing up and we're starting to see her act a lot more maturely in this book. Not only is she doing a lot better understanding and filling her role as sentinel, but she's a full-fedged, competent member of the house guard. I also continue to enjoy Merit's humor and sarcastic wit, it keeps me laughing and entertained.

Ethan is trying to earn back Merit's trust - I'd say he's matured, but can a 300 year-old vampire mature? I think it would be more accurate to say he's learning to evaluate himself and his world a little bit through Merit's eyes and while he's still got a long ways to go, he's getting it - I think. That doesn't mean that things are better between these two. Quite the opposite. Merit is not ready to trust him after the way he hurt her in Twice Bitten, resulting in some serious sexual tension for most of Hard Bitten. That, combined with Ethan's efforts, will get your heart beating a little faster.

The Story...
In this book, Merit is dealing with yet another city catastrophe with her house right at the middle. Mayor Tate has blackmailed them with a threat to issue an arrest warrant for Ethan if they can't find out (and stop) increases in vampire violence in Chicago. Merit hits the street to find out what's going on, but has to do so with the GP breathing down their necks, blaming them for the negative publicity and forbidding them from investigation. I want to insert myself into the book and give the GP a piece of my mind - they are completely unreasonable and totally overlook Selena's role in the Chicago Vampire's publicity problems; instead it is Cadogan, and Merit more specifically, that are to blame. There's detective work is fairly predictable for a good portion of the book, but some new culprits enter the scene to keep you on your feet. And, as I already said, watch out - this book throws in some unexpected twists that might just stun you.

Concluding Sentiments...
An action packed, shocking, gut-wrenching addition- this series just keeps getting better! Be prepared for the next book though - if you're anything like me you will not want to wait!
Get Hard Bitten on Amazon

[wyvernfriend]

This one started slowly for me but as it went on and the action ramped up it few by. And then the end, Merit learns something about her father and something else breaks her heart, oh wow, that came out of nowhere.

Merit is working as sentinel, doing research about a new drug on the market that's making vampires uninhibited, more bloodthirsty, which is putting the vampire community in danger from the human community. Making the already fragile peace even more fragile. To add to the stress there's a vampire from England assesing Cadogan House, and he's not sure that peace with humanity is a good thing.

Some moments flowed better than others but overall it was a very interesting read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

[MurderByDeath]

I'm so very thankful I knew the ending of this book before I read it, or else I'd have been so angry I wouldn't have continued with the series. Luckily, I knew what was coming and was able to enjoy the book in spite of it. I found the story to be excellent and didn't want to put it down. I missed the great interplay between Merit and Mallory - there just wasn't that much time spent with the friendship, but I suspect that will be changing in the next book.

I will be picking up Drink Deep tonight!

[Melanie]

OMG. I cannot believe this book. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm not really sure how to write anything without spoiling. Let's just say that this book is heartbreaking. I just have to say that I agree with Jen in her review of this book. I just don't know how to say it any better than that. I just don't know what to say.

[Cocktails and Books]

This is a hard one to write. After spending the last 4 days reading this series, I’m at a bit of a loss right now. I’ve read on Chloe Neill’s blog to trust her, and I do, because I have a feeling that not all that I just read is as it appears. But no matter, right now, I feel a sense of loss and can’t wrap my head around what just happened.

Things are rough in Chicago. Celina’s latest hijinks have caused the table to be turned on the Vampire community. No longer the “celebrities du jour” they must contend with protester and accusations of violence, no so more than Cadogan House.

Mayor Tate is on a mission, to rid the city of the escalation in violence and he’s tasked Ethan and Merit to “fix it”. To add a little incentive, he has an arrest warrant ready, with Ethan’s name, if they don’t solve the issue with the raves. To make matters worse, Darius, a member of the Greenwich Presidium, comes to town to talk about the recent goings on with the Chicago houses...specifically what Ethan, as senior Master, is doing to deal with the issues.

Unfortunately, Darius doesn’t quite see things the same was as Ethan and Merit, which leads to Merit having to enlist some help from the vampires within Cadogan house, as well as some of those mysterious Red Guards (although not in an official capacity).

We were left with many questions and on hell of a shock at the end. I don’t know what I’ll do til November, but I have a sneaky suspicion that we won’t have all our answers for a while. Chloe Neill, I’m doing as you asked and trusting you!

[Hixxup]

awesome book but I hated it as well. I can't believe she fricking killed ethan off! omg! what was she thinking. I can't believe Neill did that! I'm so OMG! UGH! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!! I'm so upset with this, so suffice it to say, the next book in November might be the last one I read of this series if there are more after it. I'm sorry but it won't be the same without. Ethan. so basically if he doesn't somehow make it bac I'm done with the Chicagoland Vampires series. :(

[Linda]

MAJOR SPOILERS - DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE BOOK YET!!









2 and a half stars :( I am not a happy reader.

How could Chloe Neill do this to me? She actually let Celina kill Ethan, for real?? I just can't get over that at all. I loved a lot of things about this book, but killing Ethan really killed the book for me as well. I truly loved his character, and thought that he had finally seen the light about Merit, and how she deserved all of him, and that they could become a great couple, and SHE KILLED HIM :O

IMO the ending would have been so much better if Celina had killed Tate, then Ethan could have killed her. I am totaly destroyed and grief-stricken, like Merit.

However, the book was truly well written, and characters developed well in a way that was logical. There was a lot of groundwork layed for the next book as well, with Mallory, the magic and her tutor Simon.

I really liked the way Jonah came to respect Merit more, and I think that Ethan was right about her when he said that she's really grown into her role as Sentinel of the house.

Lindsay and Merit continued to be good friendds, and to have each others backs as well, and I really do like it when there are strong female friendships forming, it shows more of the heroine's character.

But I still really hate the ending, I don't see at all how this can come to a better story in the next installment, and I also don't even think I would appreciate it if Ethan somehow 'came back' to life. Catcher could have cast a spell, or there could have been something else going on, but I just can't buy that right now, and I think it might even make me more sad and angry at this point.