I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Some Girls Bite
by
Chloe Neill
urban fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by Berkley on April 7, 2009 and has 341 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Friday Night Bites, Twice Bitten, Hard Bitten, Firespell, Hexbound, Drink Deep, Charmfall, Biting Cold, House Rules, Biting Bad, Kicking It, Blood Games, The Veil, Midnight Marked, Dark Debt, The Sight, Blade Bound, The Hunt, Wild Hunger, The Beyond, The Bright and Breaking Sea, "Slaying It"
The first in the Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series for young adults set in contemporary Chicago.
In 2010, Some Girls Bite won the Nebraska Book Award for Young Adult Fiction.
My Take
The dialog is great. I love the relationship between Merit and Mallory; they just click on so many levels. I like what a smart-ass Merit is and that she’s not afraid to say what she thinks even as she honors her vows.
A couple of caveats. There’s one point early on where Ethan tells Merit that being a Cadogan vampire is “what you make it”. Up to this point, he’s been essentially telling her that she has no real choice but be a part of his society with all its rules or have none of it.
It rather irritates me that Merit, for such an intelligent person, is such an idiot about Ethan. Everything he’s done — early on as well as much later — is consistent with who he is. Why does she assign evil to him? And she’s the one who rejected him multiple times…why be surprised when he makes use of his Sentinel? I realize it makes for better drama, but then write it better!
On the whole, I really enjoyed the story. That said, it is just surface without any real meat to it.
The Story
Someone has decided to up the stakes shortly after Chicago’s vampires came out of the closet. Three of four girls attacked are murdered by a vampire, leaving clues to implicate the vampire rogues and two of the vampire Houses in Chicago. The one girl rescued during her attack is turned vampire to prevent her dying. A “gift” Merit isn’t too excited about.
She had her life planned out. She was working on her dissertation. Now this. How will her family react? Her social-climbing parents? Her beloved grandfather?
And worst of all, the head of her new House, the Lord, her Liege, the Master, actually expects her to “serve” him. As though she hadn’t an intelligent bone in her body, couldn’t think for herself! Then there’s that attraction between them. So strong. So compelling. Too compelling when neither of them wants it.
The Characters
I do like Merit. She knows what she wants…for the most part and she’s got a smart mouth! I like her roommate, Mallory, as well.
Ethan sounds incredibly hot as does Morgan. Mmmm…yummy… They’re both very alpha males. Makes sense when you consider that Ethan heads up Cadogan House while Morgan is the Second for Navarre.
Then there’s Catcher, the fourth-class sorcerer, and another hunk of male who is very interested in Mallory when he’s not teaching Merit how to fight. He and Jeff, a shapeshifter, both work for Merit’s grandfather
The Cover
Very true to the story! What a treat that is! Merit is cocking a hip in her trademark jeans and doubled tank tops against a creepy, moonlit, Victorianish manse.
