Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires) Paperback – April 25, 2017

I was so excited for Blade Bound! There were certain things I was dying to see and to have answers to. I’m glad that we still got new story to go along with the loose ends we had so it wasn’t just a wrap up book, but its own installment, with the series ending bits mixed in.Merit and the supernaturals of Chicago must deal with the sorceress that previously got away on them. She is back and has cooked up a huge plan to retaliate against the city after she lost everything she had worked so hard for. Honestly, I still wasn’t completely 100% on her end game. Did she want to rule the city? What exactly did she want from everyone? But her plan gets way out of her control and Chicago ends up trying to clean up her mess. As always, we get some great adventure with the gang as they fight to save the city. Hopefully this time proving to the citizens of Chicago that all the bad that happens in Chicago is not the fault of the vampires.We see Merit go through a few phases in this book. She is her brave self, but we see vulnerability to her as well. I love that she was able to share that with Ethan and they work through things as a team. They have really developed a great relationship.Blade Bound wraps up this era of the Chicagoland Vampires very nicely. We had things we needed to tie up, like the wedding, a loose sorceress and a prophecy, plus whatever new baddies showed up in this book. I think all of those things were dealt with nicely and we have a good, clean finish to Merit & Ethan’s tale. I’ll be watching closely for more info on the spin off to see if it is something I’m going to dive into. I’m guessing it will, if it gives me the chance to see one of my favorite couples again.Chicagoland Vampires was a great series for me. It was full of fun, snark, action and adventure. I’m sad to see it end, but am completely satisfied with how it ended. It was sigh-worthy with a tear of happiness or two.I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

It's hard to sum up a whole series of 13 books (and assorted short stories) in one review. So I'll stick to just the merits (pun intended) of this book. Neill did a stellar job in ending the series, but fortunately leaving the door open to a successor series, Heirs of Chicagoland; which is how I found the world in the first place.The last three books have been a solid arc for this final showdown, and not just with the sorceress Sorcha. Vampires and other supernaturals have needed a reckoning with the city of Chicago (and I assume by default the larger world). That conflict is handled well with meetings, battles, snark and press conferences alike.First, the wedding. Plenty of attention is paid to this grand event, but also to Merit's perfectly planned bachelorette party. Chocolate and poetry. Her friends know her well! I liked that the wedding and reception were fancy like Ethan, but egalitarian like Merit. Very modern.But the peace doesn't last long. Like many of the books, the events are described very similarly to tv show or movie visuals. They would honestly be great options; if Harry Dresden doesn't get there first. Anyway, weather plays a big role and Chicagoans get to be tough. I'm glad only the actual useful supernatural groups were involved in the planning and takedown. One spoiler that's more of a teaser: dragon.We do get to see a nerdier side to Merit and Mallory, though Mal is mainly creative which is awesome. Jonah comes back into the fold and the RG really steps it up. Loved that, and the t-shirt flair.We finally get Ethan's nickname for Merit when they were on the outs and Merit gets to play matchmaker. Some solid pop culture references, some of which Ethan actually gets. Luc makes most of them, of course. And Jeff has even more fun with tech toys.Definitely read the Epilogue, it's one of the better ones I've read. I'm gonna take a break and then dive into Heirs of Chicagoland. After the last short story, of course.

First I would like to address the scurvy guy on the cover. For not quiet a decade I've been reading this series and the main male character is Ethan Sullivan Master Vampire of Cadogan House Chicago, think the most elegant alpha male in existence, whom wears Armani and can swing a swords without breaking a sweat. The book cover is the total opposite of Ethan and it made me cringe. The dude looks like he hasn't bathed in years and looks nothing like the dapper Ethan described in the series. Guess the cover designer never read the books.I hate endings, and this last book by Chloe Neill of her Chicagoland Vampire series is no different. Yes, the book is a completion but not having a future Merit adventure to read makes me sad. In this book a little more than a year has passed for Neill's Chicago Vampires since the series started, but for me the conclusions of the series has been not quiet a decade of being in Vampire Merit's world; which is full of vampires and other supernatural creatures. I put off reading and reviewing this book for several months. I finally relented and decided to 'Listen' to the book instead of reading to put a distance between me and the last book. Yes I added degrees of separations to try to lessen the pain of the conclusion of one of my favorite series. Neill writes some of the best urban fantasy in during the run of this series, and the urban setting of Chicago set this book up as the premiere vampire series of the last decade. The book is a good bye and the plot is not as mysterious as the previous books in the series, as this book was an extension of the last book in the series, and anticlimactic as a series conclusion. This book isn't the best of the series, but Neill's quiet good is better than most authors best effort.

Una excelente novela, fácil, ligera, cómica y nada aburrida, simplemente no puedes parar de leerla, para disfrutarla un fin de semana, que puedo decir me encanta esta serie.

This series is far and away the best of its kind. Vampires, werewolfs and other supernaturals are presented in a way that you identify with them. It's humorous and sexy with just enough violence to keep everyone happy.

Mi è piaciuto come gli altri. Coerente con la storia e non scontato. I personaggi sono fedeli a sé stessi.

Note: this is the last installment of a 13-book-series and the worst place to start reading, obviously. So if you're new to the “Chicagoland Vampires”, I strongly recommend to start with “Some Girls Bite”.ReviewThe series managed to keep it up for 13 books and various novellas and I'm glad to tell you that the end did not disappoint. It's the time after the battle against Sorcha the crazy alchemist/sorceress and everybody is somewhat on edge, because the CPD let Sorcha escape. And there is another reason for nervous excitement, since it's also the time of Ethan and Merit's wedding. Yes, finally finally they're tying the knot and although there is the usual havoc surrounding Merit and the House, Chloe Neill was kind enough to let them have a wonderful wedding, before the s***t again hits the fan. I loved it!But yes, the other shoe drops and their nemesis returns with a vengeance and I was thrilled to read about some epic and very fitting showdown. I also totally appreciated that the friction between the humans and the supernatural world that was a theme throughout the series, was addressed again. And satisfyingly so.As is fitting for a series with so many protagonists and secondary characters, they all had some kind of appearance – and it never felt contrived. If you're wondering about Gabriel's prophecy: yes, there is also an answer to that. It was developed very cleverly. Actually, everything I wanted to see resolved and every question I needed answers to, were satisfyingly addressed. I loved the whole book and it was a worthy and fitting end for this cool urban fantasy series. I'm sad to see Merit go, but I'm happy she went the way she did.

Satisfyingly good what a brilliant ending to a brilliant series. What is sad is t h ere is no more Ethan and Merry I will sorely miss them.