Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

CNeill-Biting Cold

CNeill-Biting ColdI’m a huge Ethan Sullivan…er Chicagoland Vampire series, fan.  And I’ll admit, the last couple of books had left a kind of bitter/sour taste in my mouth.  I won’t give away any plot spoilers for Hard Bitten or Drink Deep, but the story arc and writing just hadn’t felt up to the level I’d gotten accustomed to by Neill in the first three novels.  Thankfully, Neill has returned to that awesome-sauce writing level in Biting Cold.

Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined. And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans.

Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed. No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.

There isn’t really any lapse of time between Biting Cold and Drink Deep. So, if you’ve read Drink Deep you’re probably frothing at the mouth to find out what in the world is going on and if what happened there at the end was real or as Merit feared…a dream.  Don’t worry, you’ll get answers to that question and ooooh so much more with Biting Cold.

I’ll admit, this review is tough because I’m really trying to not give away any major plot spoilers from Biting Cold, Drink Deep or Hard Bitten.  That way if you haven’t picked up this fantabulous series, I won’t give away the HUGE HUGE HUGE happening back in Hard Bitten.

But, I”ll agree with Jackie over on her review, that we get introduced to some new supernaturals….garden gnomes.  Now I admit, I kinda picture these guys as a more brute Travelocity gnome…complete with the tiny, pointy red hat.  But, don’t let the appearance fool you. They may be short, but they’re pretty awesome.  Guys, go check out Jackie’s review because she says a lot of what I want to say about Biting Cold and the plot points and what things you can expect a resolution to with Biting Cold.

So, I’m gonna focus more on the writing.  As I mentioned, I felt that both Hard Bitten and Drink Deep had this lackluster feel in comparison with the first three books.  But, Biting Cold  brings back that faster paced, well written prose that those first three books have.  Oh and yeah, a certain couple of developments we learn about in Biting Cold may have had something to do with that.  There were times when the plot and action seemed to lag.  This is very likely due to the fact that I’m an impatient reader. It only took me about 90 minutes to get about 1/2 through Biting Cold and  I simply could not stand it any longer. I had to know a few things…so I do what I tend to do and flip back to the last couple of chapters and read.  Then I went back and skimmed the remaining 1/2 of the book.  Um…whoops! Ha ha ha, but this is just something I do, so areas in the plot where I felt things were slow, probably weren’t as slow if I hadn’t read the ending “prematurely”. Oh well…again, I’m kind of impatient. And can you blame me after Drink Deep?!

You can bet that I’m frothing at the mouth to get a hold of book 7…House Rules.  And I’m gonna pout here…I don’t want to wait a year ! Heh, sorry, you’ll understand once you read Biting Cold. The tension, the buildup…and no release on a certain angle.  I neeeeeedz the release *G*.  If you’re up to date on the series, that may or may not give something away, but I’m not confirming nor denying anything.  But, once you’ve read it and you want to chat on twitter or something, yeah find me…we’ll talk :).

Read Order:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten
Drink Deep
Biting Cold
House Rules (2013)

Also reviewed by: Jackie at Literary Escapism, Hanging with the Bells

About Nicole 146 Articles
Attorney by day, Publicist for Barclay Publicity and reviewer/LE (assistant) editor by night. I'm a huge book nerd and love to read. I have 2 dogs, both Labrador retriever mixed breeds, who are very rotten and think they run the house. Let's not lie, they totally do, I just can't them know it ha ha! My usual genre is romance or urban fantasy. I love all things having to do with paranormal, with the occasional good contemp/BDSM/erotica thrown in to spice it all up.