Name: Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, #3)
ISBN: 9780451230645

Chloe Neill

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, #3)

Merit, Chicago's newest vampire, is learning how to play nicely with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene - and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission. Merit has to accept the assignment, even though she knows that she'll probably regret it. And she's not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals - not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries old master vampire.

A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

Twice Bitten

Sarah Escorsa

Oh wow, this instalment really was something! I thought the first two were fast-paced but Twice Bitten is even more of a page turner. It’s a wild roller coaster ride packed with lots of action, humour and emotion. We have some kind of secret vampire internal affairs trying to recruit Merit, Ethan wearing jeans (yep, you read that right!), shapeshifters coming in full force and much more… 

I think Twice Bitten has the strongest storyline in this series so far. It is much more complex and the shapeshifters involvement makes it much more interesting. The Chicagoland world keeps building up and expanding as the plot thickens and new players are introduced. Not only do we have the shapeshifters (I love Gabe & his family!) but we also get the Red Guard, a.k.a. the secretive vampire internal affairs. I just love that idea and see lots of potential there for instalments to come. (view spoiler)[Merit has so far resisted their attempt at recruiting her but her joining them would make a lot of sense. It would also feel very true to character. I don’t know how she can do that without losing Ethan so I can’t wait to see what Neill makes of that! (hide spoiler)]The plots in the first two books felt a bit light sometimes but it’s definitely not the case here. We have a solid, intricate, engaging storyline supported by non-stop action. Chloe Neill really has outdone herself here! 

And of course we have Merit! She is still as butt-kicking, fun and snarky as ever but she also shows more vulnerability here, which is nice. She doubts, she is uncertain about many things and she doesn’t know who to turn to since her friendship with Mallory is on the rocks. I have to say that I've never been a fan of Mallory’s but she becomes downright annoying in this instalment (we don’t get to see much of her though, which is good). She and Catcher had a fun thing going on but they’re becoming a bit too self-righteous for my taste, always telling Merit what she should or shouldn’t do. Especially where Ethan is concerned. Aaahhh. Ethan. Cold, manipulative, selfish, pretentious vampire master. The guy is infuriating but downright irresistible. Hey, it turns out he even has a sense of humour of sorts, who would have thought?! 

Twice Bitten focuses more on Merit and Ethan’s relationship, which is great. I love how she bugs him to death by being irritatingly appropriate (my liege this and my liege that) and repeatedly telling him she is nothing but a common soldier. Eat your heart out Ethan Sullivan! You may be deliciously irresistible but you so deserved the treatment! Sooooo, we now come to the very yummy part of this book because it might have taken three instalments but when sparks FINALLY start flying between Merit and Ethan, man do they fly! It was definitely worth the long wait and when it did happen I wasn’t far from clapping and cheering along! It’s one of the schmexiest scenes ever and it made me feel like a giddy schoolgirl. It really was all very emotion-charged and I will embrace my total fangirl silliness by admitting I read the whole thing three times in a row. Yes, I know, I’ve got it really bad. (view spoiler)[Well of course Mr “I’m so self-righteous” Ethan Sullivan had to go and ruin it all, humiliating Merit along the way. By the end of the book he already regrets his stupid behaviour but I think it will take time for Merit to come around. For all his deliciousness, he’s put her through so much already I wonder how much longer she will stand his conflicted feelings. Yes, he is remorseful and apologetic (I just about melted when he called Merit Caroline!) but how long will it last? How long until he comes up with yet another excuse to push Merit away? It will be interesting to see what direction their relationship takes but I think something needs to happen to go past the “love-you-but-can’t-be-with-you” situation otherwise things might get boring very fast.  (hide spoiler)] One thing is certain: I just can’t wait to find out what Chloe Neill has in store for Merit and Ethan!

Now, I am still waiting for answers to some questions that have been bugging me since the very first instalment in the series. First, we still don’t know why Ethan happened to be on the campus grounds the night Merit was attacked (when he turned her in order to save her). Second, it would be nice to find out why Merit goes by Merit instead of Caroline. Minor quibbles really but I’d still like to know.

Twice Bitten is yet another fantastic instalment in this series and I can’t wait to get my hands on Hard Bitten!

Amanda J 

Same great humor and vamps (plus all the other alt supernatural creatures) that first two books enjoyed. Movement in the romance area. Really just enjoy the series. Its fun, not serious, but suspension of belief fun.