Review: Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires,3) by Chloe Neill
Urban Fantasy
Publisher: NAL Trade (July 6, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0451230645
368 pages
ARC provided for review by the publisher

Synopsis from Amazon:

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.

After reading Some Girls Bite (review) and it's follow-up Friday Night Bites (review), I've come to adore Chloe Neill's new urban fantasy series. Not only does Twice Bitten continue the Chicagoland Vampires series's winning streak, it ups the ante.

Picking up directly where the second book left off, it's two months after Merit made the change from human to vampire and became the Sentinel of her new house, Cadogan. Although she still struggles - with lust as well as the fighting - during her physical training sessions with House Master Ethan Sullivan, we she her beginning to come into her own. Merit's learning to balance her duties, adjusting to her new life and forming solid relationships with her fellow novitiate (initiated) vampires. She's put her angst over her new-found vampirism aside and seems to be accepting her lot. Her growing level of comfort and her increasing loyalty to her house makes her even more likable - not only for us readers, but also for those novitiates other than her guard co-workers with whom her relations were formerly distant. Despite all of this, Merit still harbors some doubts - doubts that lead to a huge decision that she faces in this installment.

Neill does a great job of showing growth in Merit here. Her overall development as a character lends a dose of realism to this paranormal tale, particularly when it comes to her efforts at learning to fight. Urban fantasy series often provide us with heroines that come ready-made to kick ass. It's refreshing to see a heroine make the transition from normal post-grad student to vampire protector. Seeing her succeed is all the more of a reward because of this. In addition, we also witness a wealth of personal growth within Merit. She's more open and honest with herself and others about her feelings, especially those pertaining to Ethan and her unresolved issues with her best friend, Mallory.

Ethan too shows some significant growth. It appears as if Merit has tempered his ego and helped him be more forthright emotionally. I came to like Ethan a lot more this time around. Neill managed to make him more sympathetic without straying to far from what we've known of him as a character. I didn't always agree with his decisions or behavior in this book, but I gained a great deal more respect for him. The sexual tension that has simmered between him and Merit since the start jumps off the charts here. Neill takes their relationship in a new direction and I, for one, was surprised at where it went. It provides some lovely conflicts along the way too, and not just between Ethan and Merit. Their relationship issues inevitably spill over into business and are only compounded upon when certain new and returning characters are present in a scene.

Not only are the characters growing, but the series as a whole is also. There is plenty of info to be learned here regarding the shifters, which were introduced (but not delved into) in the previous novel. Merit and Ethan become entangled in shifter politics and glean plenty of heretofore secret knowledge about the workings of the pack. This is thanks to Gabriel Keene, the alpha of the shifter packs, who has reached out to them due to rumblings of tensions and war.  I have to say, I found Keene to be a very admirable and sexy character. I enjoyed the fact that Neill made him a dedicated husband and father as opposed to a possible love-interest for Merit. The addition of Keene, his family and fellow shifters add a new dynamic to the story. Aside from the obvious difference - their supernatural heritage - the shifters are unique in their pack structure, which is superficially similar to the vampire house set-up but is based on family rather than a club-like inclusion. The shifter element is a fascinating addition to the series and I'm looking forward to its further inclusion - which is all but guaranteed due to their large involvement in the plot and plenty of allusions to future events.

If it all sounds overly serious, don't worry - Neill's signature snark-filled humor is ever-present throughout the book. We're also treated to some high quality action and fight scenes where our heroine steps up to the plate. And the end? It's in keeping with the sense of drama and the unexpected that permeates Twice Bitten and makes it an excellent continuation of an already above-par story.

Grade: A+

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