Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires, #2

URBAN FANTASY

You’d think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us bloodsucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we’re enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite—fending off paparazzi only slightly less dangerous than cross and stake-wielding slayers. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Public isn’t exactly thrilled to be living side-by-side with the undead, but at least they haven’t stormed the castle yet.

But all that will change once they learn about the Raves—mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior, putting mere mortals at ease with their policy of asking a person’s consent before taking a big gulp of the red stuff. However, that doesn’t make good copy for a first time reporter looking to impress his high society family.

So now my “master,” the centuries old, yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan, wants me to reconnect with my own upper class family and act as liaison between humans and vampires—and keep the more unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn’t want people and vamps to play nicey-nice—someone with an ancient grudge.

“Awkwardness, thy name is vampire.”

Merit has settled down in her new world without much issue - embracing her new vampire state (although there's some confusing bumps in there), aligning the new life with her old one including problems with her best friend, being a bit unfair to the current guy dating her, still flirting but resisting Ethan, juggling family issues with her father and trying to schmooze with her old family world considering her position in her House, and learning to fight and be prepared to battle the world as a Sentinel.

The world building for the setting is well structured, I suppose, with Vampire clans ran by different "houses" - mainly politically aligned but with some disagreements. The book continued Merit's adventures in the world, but it didn't hold my interest as much as the first since not much was going on that felt new or particularly tense. You have a villain in the background still, but I felt sure the main character would be fine, so it's mainly filled with scenes of spending time with friends, learning to fight, and house politics. Yeah, not that interesting really.

I'm liking the shapeshifter rivalry angle and wonder where the author's going with that - could be some good future stories. We'll see.

Even though Ethan sounds appetizing, I'm just not feeling a convincing chemistry between the two that draws much devotion. I can't see that as a draw to the series yet since I don't care either way if they get together, but the author invests a lot of time with it.

Merit is a decent sort but she's unrealistically talented. I like when a heroine in a UF world stands out as special, but she's hovering on the dull border. Usually that something special is dangerous, exciting in a forbidden way, or creates issues...when the 'special' fits in with everything pleasantly, there's not enough tension to keep it fascinating.