Weigh In Wednesday - Review: Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

Three Stars to Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

This is book four in the Chicagoland Vampires series. I've read this series and enjoy it. If you haven't read the series and are interested, I suggest starting with book one (Some Girls Bite). It's a good vampire series that has unique aspects that don't apply to the typical vampire scene. No matter my star rating for this book, I love the series and will continue with it.

The reason for it only getting three stars is the fact that there were things that happened that really pissed me off. It's mainly because I've followed the series from the beginning and am attached to the world and how it works. When things that I'm used to are ruined/taken away/etc...it irks me.

Merit is a vampire in the Codogan House (in this book the vampires have 'houses' that they belong to. This would be another reason you should read it from book one.). This book is about someone extra vamping the vamps. There are vampires turning up all raged and pumped up to do some evil vampire things. Merit plans to stop them. And that is what this book is all about. Raged vamps causing chaos in Chicago and Merit being the one who needs to end it.

It's time for the spoilers and I know I didn't give you much to go on about this one, but feel free to click read more and I'll explain. BUT I warn you, my spoilers are going to give it ALL away, so if you think you may read the book, please do not read my spoilers.

Really, I'm going to talk about what irritated me the most about this book.

For one, Merit learns that her father is the reason she's a vampire. He wanted to have 'connections' in the vamp world and thought the best way to have that would be to have his daughter be one. Really? Yes, really. He offered Ethan (we'll get to him in a minute) money to turn Merit. Of course, Ethan refused, but he still ended up tuning her to save her life when some other vamp attacked her. (BTW, the turning happened in book one). Merit learns all this info in this book.

Now moving on to something else that irritated me. Merit can sense magic, like it's coming off of the person who has magic in waves. BUT for some reason we've been through four books and she didn't even learn that the Mayor of Chicago had magic until the end of book four. FOR REAL? Yes, for real. How can you ALWAYS tell when someone is supernatural, but with all the time you were around Mr. Mayor, you had no idea something was off about him? WTF?!? The thing for me that pulls me into supernatural/paranormal/fantasy books is the fact that I believe in the world that is built for me. I will follow a writer into any situation they want as long as I believe it's 'true'. Don't start doing stupid shit that makes me call BS.

And on that note. Merit is good at resisting magic, glamour to be more specific. So, here she is...all powerful vampy woman and you make her dense all of the sudden? I didn't like that.

And now, about Ethan. He is Merits leader/maker and since book one there is a romantic connection between them. I like it. The back and forth they go through. The unsure feelings Merit has for him. Through this WHOLE book, their romance was building and I just KNEW she was going to give into him. So, did that happen? Hell no. So what did happen you say? The author freaking killed him off! Yeah, you heard me...He was effing killed off. You make me love the MCs of this book. You make me feel the desire and love Merit feels for Ethan, and then you stake him, turning him into nothing but ashes? Are you freaking kidding me? Did you think I needed something like that to add to the suspense or something? I mean, help me out here. I don't have a problem with killing off loved characters (or even unloved ones), but I do have a problem when you do it this way.

To add to that one, she spends pages being all crybaby mopey about him being dead AND about what she learned about her change. (You remember, what I said earlier...about her father offering money to him to change her?) When she could have spent that time learning what exactly happened the night of her change. And getting back to her daily routine under the master of her house. I mean, come on. Yeah, he lied to you. (Because in book one he made it like he was in the right place at the right time and therefore was able to turn her to save her life). But really, move on and live. You're supposed to be a strong and powerful woman...act like it.

Now that I've ranted about everything I hated, let me say this.

The book left off on a bit of a cliffhanger, which was actually unnecessary since I would have wanted to read book five regardless. But, the series is good. I'm invested in Merit and her world. I couldn't not read the next book because the invested part and the cliffhanger make me REALLY want to know what's going to happen next. So, the point is, don't take all my WTF things about this book and decide it must not be worth the read-it is. I honestly do recommend it and I really will be reading book five (which is already out btw).