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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
There are two main things that make Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series standout. The crazy will-they-won’t-they tension between vampire Merit and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan is the first. The second is the robustness of the characters. Every person in Neill’s world is vibrant and real. You want to be friends with them, you want to know what’s going on. In many ways, Neill’s Chicago is an edgier, urban Bon Temps.
The strain on Merit’s relationships with friends and Ethan tempered that looking glass element in the last couple books. With House Rules, all our favorite characters come back to life in a way that makes us cheer for and worry about them.
Merit is back to being Merit. She’s cautiously happy about her relationship with Ethan. Yes, they are together. For real. They live together and everything. She’s still plowing forward with what she thinks is right—most notably her participation with the Red Guard. She’s funny, as expected, and makes Ethan go to a diner for food. Even gets him to order a Patty Melt. You know he loves her.
I can’t say Ethan Sullivan hasn’t changed. He’s bolder, believe it or not, after his staking experience. That said, he has the same arrogance and devotion that made readers (and Merit) fall for him in the first place. We get more of him than usual because he and Merit are together. He’s charming and dirty at times. He also makes a zombie joke. About himself. Lighthearted Sullivan isn’t a bad thing.
Mallory is back, too. Kind of. She isn’t a dominant force in this book, but she and Merit really are on the track to being good friends again. She’s clean from the magic (Scolding from Berta will do that.) She’s back to colorful hair and a sunnier disposition. Merit goes to her for solace, and it works. Mallory is a source of support instead of just another keg of stress. Also, the return of the nickname Darth Sullivan.
We see Jeff Christopher as more of a leading guy at the unofficial Ombuds office. That means he’s around more. He hangs with Merit some, and despite his serious crush on her, continues to remind her that he has a girlfriend. It’s adorable and one-hundred percent Jeff.
Even the moments with Lindsay, Luc, Margot and Darius feel right. House Rules puts all the Chicagoland Vampires characters back on track, and that makes for a solid novel.
The strain on Merit’s relationships with friends and Ethan tempered that looking glass element in the last couple books. With House Rules, all our favorite characters come back to life in a way that makes us cheer for and worry about them.
Merit is back to being Merit. She’s cautiously happy about her relationship with Ethan. Yes, they are together. For real. They live together and everything. She’s still plowing forward with what she thinks is right—most notably her participation with the Red Guard. She’s funny, as expected, and makes Ethan go to a diner for food. Even gets him to order a Patty Melt. You know he loves her.
I can’t say Ethan Sullivan hasn’t changed. He’s bolder, believe it or not, after his staking experience. That said, he has the same arrogance and devotion that made readers (and Merit) fall for him in the first place. We get more of him than usual because he and Merit are together. He’s charming and dirty at times. He also makes a zombie joke. About himself. Lighthearted Sullivan isn’t a bad thing.
Mallory is back, too. Kind of. She isn’t a dominant force in this book, but she and Merit really are on the track to being good friends again. She’s clean from the magic (Scolding from Berta will do that.) She’s back to colorful hair and a sunnier disposition. Merit goes to her for solace, and it works. Mallory is a source of support instead of just another keg of stress. Also, the return of the nickname Darth Sullivan.
We see Jeff Christopher as more of a leading guy at the unofficial Ombuds office. That means he’s around more. He hangs with Merit some, and despite his serious crush on her, continues to remind her that he has a girlfriend. It’s adorable and one-hundred percent Jeff.
Even the moments with Lindsay, Luc, Margot and Darius feel right. House Rules puts all the Chicagoland Vampires characters back on track, and that makes for a solid novel.
this book was AWESOME! can't wait to read the next one!
4 stars
She told Ethan. Thank Goodness. If she had't I was ready to scream and possibly participate in book abuse.
The Cadogan house is breaking its ties with the GP. They have support from the Rogue vampires, the Shifters, Merit's grandfather's group and the other houses. But the GP never does anything easily. Plus vampires are being killed and Merit must investigate. Mallory seems to be pulling her act together.
Merit officially joins the Red Guard, ceremony and everything. Ethan and Merit finally have a bit of down time for their relationship but then Lacey shows up.
I liked it. The shifters are awesome. I wonder where things will go from here.
She told Ethan. Thank Goodness. If she had't I was ready to scream and possibly participate in book abuse.
The Cadogan house is breaking its ties with the GP. They have support from the Rogue vampires, the Shifters, Merit's grandfather's group and the other houses. But the GP never does anything easily.
Spoiler
The GP steals that dragon stone of Ethan's that used to be peter's.Merit officially joins the Red Guard, ceremony and everything. Ethan and Merit finally have a bit of down time for their relationship but then Lacey shows up.
Spoiler
She sees Merit joining the Red Guard and tells Ethan that Merit is having an Affair with Jonah.I liked it. The shifters are awesome. I wonder where things will go from here.
Why are there so many side characters, and discussions of politics, but never any discussion about Ethan's 200+ other vamps that live outside the house? Don't they have jobs? Out of the 300 vamps, not one is a lawyer? A judge? A cop? A political figure? After hundreds of years living under the humans radar, you'd think they'd have some of their members work their way up the ranks to higher positions with the society in which they live.
And does Ethan HAVE to be so gullible for a 4oo year old vamp? I mean, he is getting manipulated or betrayed by the people closest to him in EVERY book. Plus the first 3 books was Ethan chasing the girl, then every book afterwards (thus far) he has a different excuse why they should break up. SMH. I guess not all age comes with wisdom.
And does Ethan HAVE to be so gullible for a 4oo year old vamp? I mean, he is getting manipulated or betrayed by the people closest to him in EVERY book. Plus the first 3 books was Ethan chasing the girl, then every book afterwards (thus far) he has a different excuse why they should break up. SMH. I guess not all age comes with wisdom.
Spoiler
And I totally guessed that the egg was still in the house as soon as they said the fairies wanted it and they didn't see anyone leave the house with it.
3.5 stars. The first half of this book felt very slow, and I had trouble staying interested. Merit is faced with more of the same - two vampires are murdered, and she becomes embroiled in the investigation. The Cadogen house is in the process of finalizing their split from the GP. Ethan and Merit are reconnecting, and Merit is trying to come to terms with her friendship with Jonah and her role on the Red Guard. Merit is also slowly rebuilding her fractured friendship with Mallory. These things needed to happen, but I can't say they were all that interesting.
But suddenly, the pacing picked up after the halfway mark and I couldn't put the book down. Some things were decided, while others remain open. With how it ended, I'm certainly anxious to see where Ms. Neill takes the story next!
But suddenly, the pacing picked up after the halfway mark and I couldn't put the book down. Some things were decided, while others remain open. With how it ended, I'm certainly anxious to see where Ms. Neill takes the story next!
I was really dreading this book. I think I'm still a little bitter about Ethan being alive. He's a good character and all, but that magical loophole that authors use to bring characters back drives me nuts. Anyway, this was actually a fun read. I'm glad it turned out to be much better than I had expected.
****************************SPOILER*************************
I made the error of looking at a review of this book while i was reading it and several reviews said "it wasn't as good as others" or "disappointed"..so i was kinda worried that i wouldn't like it.
Yes, the storyline wasn't as gritty as the previous books. This was more about relationships and politics. Relationships being Ethan and Merit, The House with the other Houses (now they were removed from the GP), between Shifters and Vamps, Fae and Vamps, Merit and her dad...
There WAS a storyline about a killer of vamps, but it felt like a secondary line rather than the main, and was mentioned every night, but as they had no lines of where to go until the final few pages, then nothing could be done. But i think as it was mainly about the relationships -having a heavy secondary storyline may have been too much for the book.
The main storyline was about the saving of the House from the GP, Merit and Ethan's stumbling blocks (again -its never smooth sailing for them!) and Merit coming to terms with joining the RG.
I really didn't like Lacey after this book!
As usual, the storyline DOES flow as all Ms Neill's books do.
The beginning was a little......not boring, but it felt like more of a chore to get through the first 50 odd pages to get the story going -i agree that THAT isn't normal of Ms Neill's previous books, but it did pick up and was definitely readable.
I enjoyed it. it did feel like a stepping stone to the next level, as they're now no longer part of the GP and are considered Rogue vampires. Ethan and Merits relationship reaches a new level. Merit's own self was examined and you saw more of her reasons of everything she has done, even going through her questioning if everything was right.
I look forward to the next one! Thank you for another great read Ms Neill!
http://pennyforthem1.blogspot.co.uk
I made the error of looking at a review of this book while i was reading it and several reviews said "it wasn't as good as others" or "disappointed"..so i was kinda worried that i wouldn't like it.
Yes, the storyline wasn't as gritty as the previous books. This was more about relationships and politics. Relationships being Ethan and Merit, The House with the other Houses (now they were removed from the GP), between Shifters and Vamps, Fae and Vamps, Merit and her dad...
There WAS a storyline about a killer of vamps, but it felt like a secondary line rather than the main, and was mentioned every night, but as they had no lines of where to go until the final few pages, then nothing could be done. But i think as it was mainly about the relationships -having a heavy secondary storyline may have been too much for the book.
The main storyline was about the saving of the House from the GP, Merit and Ethan's stumbling blocks (again -its never smooth sailing for them!) and Merit coming to terms with joining the RG.
I really didn't like Lacey after this book!
As usual, the storyline DOES flow as all Ms Neill's books do.
The beginning was a little......not boring, but it felt like more of a chore to get through the first 50 odd pages to get the story going -i agree that THAT isn't normal of Ms Neill's previous books, but it did pick up and was definitely readable.
I enjoyed it. it did feel like a stepping stone to the next level, as they're now no longer part of the GP and are considered Rogue vampires. Ethan and Merits relationship reaches a new level. Merit's own self was examined and you saw more of her reasons of everything she has done, even going through her questioning if everything was right.
I look forward to the next one! Thank you for another great read Ms Neill!
http://pennyforthem1.blogspot.co.uk
Best book of the series. Absolutely loved it!
So far Chloe Neill is my favorite author; I really enjoy this series. My favorite part of this book would have to be when Ethan is sparring with Jonah. Haha! I hope that Neill ends this series before she ends up destroying it. The relationship between Merit and Ethan has been emotional for everyone. I don't think the fans can take anymore; for God's sake...the man took a stake for her. Let them live happily ever after would ya!? lol It is better to have a bitter sweet ending than a stupid one.