Name: Annabella's review of Dark Debt by Chloe Neill
Item: Dark Debt
Rating: 4
Author: Annabella

Chloe Neill

Overwhelmed by her responsibilities for Cadogan house, Merit reluctantly assists an old friend who is being brutally targeted by a crime syndicate for his debts, unaware that her new enemies have dangerous connections. By the New York Times best-selling author of Blood Games. Original.

Dark Debt

Jaden Scott

“[A] WONDERFULLY COMPELLING RELUCTANT VAMPIRE HEROINE.”— USA Today Bestselling Author Julie Kenner Between standing Sentinel of Cadogan house and making society appearances with House Master Ethan Sullivan, a new member of the American Association of Vampires, Merit has her hands full. The last thing she needs is trouble, especially of the deadly kind. But when an old friend shows up in need, Merit can’t refuse. Morgan Greer, Master of House Navarre, has gotten himself into serious debt with a dangerous Chicago crime syndicate known as the Triad. And they’re willing to exact more than a pound of flesh for payback—unless Merit can find a way to stop them. Only the Triad’s connections go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last…

Annabella

3.5  
Can we get to the thread that's been hanging since we met the pack? Pretty please?

Sarah Escorsa

Buddy read with the ever awesome Jaime starting March 3, 2015.

Yes. It is true. There are actually non-crappy, non-Ilona Andrews books out there. And this is one of them. Will wonders never cease?



But you know what the funny thing is? I shouldn't even like this book. It should have ended up in my 
  DNF graveyard
 instead of getting a 4-star rating. Hey, I shouldn't even be liking this series. At all.

❂❂❂ TOP 5 REASONS WHY I SHOULDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK ❂❂❂

⑤ Vampires
Unlike some of my dear friends who are self-proclaimed fangbangers (view spoiler)[nope, you won't be getting any names from me. Who do you take me for anyway? (view spoiler)[Hey there S.! How's Mr Northman doing these days?! (view spoiler)[Oops, sorry about that, it kind of just slipped my tongue (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)], I've never been very fond of bloodsuckers. I'm more of a howlbanger kind of girl. Simple as that.

④ Darth Sullivan
He's a vampire, which is bad enough. A blonde one at that *gasps* With long hair too *gasps again* And he's a reformed aggravating Alpha male. Okay, so he's still an Alpha but now the guy's in luuuuuuurrrrrve for God's sake. MAJORLY IN LUUUUURRRRVE. He positively oozes sweetness and devotion. So much so that you can feel it pouring out of every single hard plane of his beautifully muscled, sexy as hell, delicious body <-- am I digressing here? Thought so. Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yes, the sweetness overload. There's so much of it to be had here I should be in a sugar-shock induced coma right now.

③ A HEA of sorts
HEAs are usually very short-lived in this series. Which is a very good thing when you think about it since most characters here are vampires. I mean, they're not far from being immortal, that gives Ever Freaking After a whole new meaning doesn't it? *shudders* Anyway, we tend to have temporary HEAs here so I guess it could be worse. But still. Even temporary happiness tends to bring out the homicidal maniac in me.



② Romance
Okay, this is where things really get tricky. The BIG R word. Writing the actual word hurts so you'll only get an R from me. To be honest the BIG R. thing wasn't that bad at the beginning of this series. But then Methan happened and things got out of hand pretty fast. And it keeps getting worse with every new instalment. Oh dear. I can feel the sugar-shock induced coma coming back as I'm typing this.

① The vampiric soap opera
All drama, all the time: family drama, relationship drama, vampire drama, friendship drama, business drama, sorcerer drama, political drama, murder drama, shapeshifter drama, human drama. Hey we even have mob-related drama in this one! There is so much DRAMA going on that reading this series sometimes feels like watching The Young and The Restless.



This is pretty much a recipe for disaster as far I'm concerned. But you know what? It isn't. Because when it comes to Chicagoland Vampires I JUST DON'T CARE. It could be all fluffy bunnies and pastel coloured rainbows and I'd still read it. This series is my crack. I love it no matter what.



❂❂❂ TOP 3 REASONS WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK ❂❂❂

③ The vampiric soap opera
All drama, all the time. Okay. I can see you doubting my sanity here. I bet you noticed there is some kind of conflict between #1 up there ↑↑↑ and #3 right here ←←← . Yeah well, that's bipolarity for you. The thing is, all this drama actually keeps things interesting. There's never a dull moment in this series: evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! People coming back from the dead! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Wild chases! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Mind rape! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Murder! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Crazy fights! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Revenge! Evil scheming! Evil scheming everywhere! Chicagoland Vampires have more fun. And so have I. 

② Darth Sullivan
Because he now makes Star Wars references *gasps* Because he developed a sense of humour *gasps* Because he's still as Alpha as they get *mmmm* Because he's a yummy bastard *mmmm* And because I wouldn't mind if he asked me to stand up (view spoiler)[<-- page 52. See Sarah pant. Heavily.

 (hide spoiler)]



① Merit 
Because she eats like a horse. Because she feels more comfortable in a Cubs t-shirt than in an evening dress. Because she's got Ethan Freaking Darth Sullivan wrapped around her finger. Because she isn't perfect. Because her secret nickname is still secret. Because she has a brain and uses it. Because she's snarky as hell. Because she's got a katana. Because she kicks ass. And because she rules.
  “Not bad for a girl.” “That’s what the last guy said—right before I kicked his ass.”



So we actually have 5 cons and 3 pros here. Now that's my kind of maths. Never underestimate the minority. The minority will get your ass kicked every single time.

At this point you probably want to read an actual review for this book, instead of my usual, uninformative ramblings. Best idea you've had all day. Why don't you go and check out Chelsea's or Sarah's (no not me you silly, another Sarah *eyeroll*)? Come on, off you go!

Bethany Lacey

Link to Blog: http://laceysloveofliterature.blogspo...

 ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. 

OMG! Anybody who knows me knows how much I love Chloe Neill and the Chicagoland Vampires Series. I love Merit, Ethan, the side characters. Everything. This series is just incredibly kick-ass!

So, this book starts a month after the events of the last month, and we'e straight in the middle of things. Ethan, Merit and the Guards of Cadogan House are on high alert after finding that letter from Balthasar in Ethan and Merit's apartments. The book opens with Merit, Ethan, Mallory and Catcher having a Spring night picnic in the park, when they're called home as Balthasar has alerted the press that he's ready for a reunion with his 'son'. 

Ethan isn't taking the news that his creator is alive very well. I mean, could you blame him? After being dragged throughout all of Europe killing and abusing women, Ethan had had enough and decided to leave. Balthasar wouldn't allow him that so killed Persephone, the woman Ethan was involved with at the time. Ethan left, and thought Balthasar dead as he witnessed Persephone's family decapitating him. However, the face-to-face reunion with Balthasar isn't rainbows and sunshines. Ethan despises his creator, so confirming the fact that he is actually alive isn't exactly comforting. 

I love Ethan. I fell in love with Ethan in the first book of this series, and with each book I fall more and more in love with him. He is the alpha-male. He's possessive, sweet, caring. He protects not only his house, but those who he considers his - his family, his friends, his Sentinel.


  "You're my future wife and the mother of my future child. I will protect you against any threat, living, dead, or undead, just as I promised in my oath to this house."


Merit. God, I love this kick-ass heroine! She doesn't whine, moan or bitch. She deals with what life hands her with finesse, and grace. Hell, she even has grace in this book - wearing stunningly beautiful gowns, that have to be insured as she makes a habit of destroying them. However, Balthasar is a big poisonous problem. He's powerful, and has his sights on using Merit to make Ethan pay. He literally invades her mind - violates it, and in effect creates a distance between Merit and Ethan. Merit is not as immune to glamour anymore, and she can't stand the feel of it.


  'I took in air through painfully tight lungs. He took a step close, visibly flinched when I pulled back farther.'


I love Catcher, Jeff and Chuck. The Holy Trinity of Ombuddies. These guys are just so perfect. Fighting on the side of Supernaturals and solving crimes. The crime in the book is an attempted murder of a shady man, by two vampires. Yikes. These vampires, surprisingly Navarre, are attempting to kill King to protect their house. Celine Desauliners. Not only did she cause so much trouble when she was alive, she's causing it now that she's dead. Leaving her house in debt with the Circle, a mob-like association, the Circle will allow the house to have their debts nulled if they publicly murder King at Adrien Reed's house. However, being in the right place at the right time, Ethan and Merit prevent the murder. 

Can I just say that I got a premonition about Reed. 


  "As I'm certain you're well aware, I don't need publicity. And I don't appreciate the tenor of the question."


I even highlighted and noted when we were introduced to Reed that I thought he was a shady and shifty guy. I just didn't expect that twist...

This series is incredible. I suggest if you haven't read the series, firstly, why the hell not? You're missing out. And secondly, get reading. The eleven books in this series, and the remaining two to come out are awesome! They will honestly go down as one of my favourite series of all-times - I've lost count of how many times I've reread this series, and I will continue to reread this series!

On a side note, can I ask if we're ever gonna get an Emma-Damien novella? 

Get reading guys!

Michelle Boyea

This is a series that was fantastic at first, started to decline, but is now getting better and better. This latest installment kept me quickly turning pages from beginning to end. It was a struggle to put down and I could not wait for the ending. This is one of my favorites of this series and the ending was the best that I have read in a long time.

Jaden Scott &
Dark Debt by Chloe Neill

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