ARC Review--Blood Games by Chloe Neill

While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet...

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

I won this ARC from the author in a contest on her blog, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series has a been a favorite of mine pretty much since day one. Merit is a spunky kind of heroine, she didn't choose to become vampire and while not completely happy with the choice thrust upon her, she has done rather well for herself in the near year she's been turned. She's grown and become Sentinel, faced down several enemies, endured heartbreak again and again...and there's still more to come! In Blood Games, we see Ethan battling to rule the GP while Merit deals with a serial killer wreaking havoc in Chicago.

Merit has always been an incredibly fun heroine! She's got the snark and wit down pat, and plus she's pretty kickass with her katana! She's the optima of Urban Fantasy heroines! Although, sometimes I do miss her cover days of jeans and tank tops, but oh well. Her character grows and so must her cover appearance I guess! 

As I mentioned, in this one we see Ethan begin his trials in order to be a candidate for the GP ruling. But when Darius comes to Chicago, well things get a little out of hand! Not to mention that Ethan has received a note of some kind that really has him acting distant and no matter how much Merit may fight him on it, he won't open up to her.

Relationship troubles aside, Merit is also dealing with a serial killer who's running about Chicago. The ritualistic matter of the killings is startling and it takes help from her best witchy pal, Mallory to shine some light onto the case! After that, figuring out the whodunit wasn't too hard! Although, I was pretty wrapped up in the story myself that I didn't even make a guess!

This series just keeps on getting better and better! It's one where pretty much any book can stand on its own BUT there are past events that sometimes have our characters in their current places. Such as if you haven't read Wild Things, you wouldn't know about Ethan trying to run for the GP leadership role. Little things like that! I will be sad to see this series end sometime down the road, but there's still plenty of things that are left unsaid--and likely new things that will popup in the books to come--that I feel like this will truly be one crazy-fantastic series! Plus, I still want to know more about Ethan's tattoo on his leg...oh yeah, and the prophecy too! 

As far as romance goes, well, Merit and Ethan are in a bit of tiff for most of the book, but Chloe still doesn't disappoint! There's plenty of romantic interludes before and after the "tiff" gets started! And oh wow were those amazing! I seriously can't wait for these two to get their HEA ending, one that will hopefully be a bit more permanent and not the HEA for now scenario! Ethan and Merit have been through a lot and it seems they will continue to have quite the dilemmas thrown into their path.

The very last few paragraphs definitely leave a lot to be desired! And when I say that I mean you are left with burning questions! I am left wondering if it's real or not! Too many unknowns and eek gads! I have to wait until March 3rd for answers?! Oh what a world we live in!

Blood Games is definitely one exciting and delightful read that shouldn't be missed by fans of vampires or (the city of) Chicago! Because really, what better way to visit Chicago then through Merit's eyes?


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Blood Games releases August 5, 2014