Dark Debt (Chicagoland Vampires) Paperback – March 3, 2015

Dark Debt is the eleventh book in the Chicagoland Vampire novels by Chloe Neill. It maybe number eleven in the series, but Neill’s writing is just as fresh and fun, as when I first started reading the books. The books were actually made out of paper then, shocking! Neill’s books and this one in particular put a big stupid grin on my face, and as I turned off my Kindle after I read the last words, I was still as enthralled with Neill’s Chicago as I was when I first picked up book number one. Neill’s characters are never stale and the plots are always crisp, and biting like new fallen snow. Dark Debt is the start of a new story ARC for the series, and the mayor and the ‘vampires are evil’ mobs have melted into the background. I new more powerful ‘baddy’ has come into play and is not just after Cadogan House vampires, but all of Chicagoland Vampires.The character interaction, be it romantic, friendly or adversarial is always spot on; as Neill writes three dimensional characters who may not be perfect but they are real, flaws and all. Merit, the lead heroine is sassy, has a wicked sense of humor, loves to eat, is smart, and jumps into any situation with her whole heart. She is surrounded by characters that support and challenge her, and she is the better vampire for it. The camaraderie amongst the characters is priceless; and I adore the banter. Neill gives GREAT banter.The synopsis pretty much lays out the plot of the book, but just like Neill’s others books there is the main plot and a few subplots going on at the same time. Merit and company have to deal with the dead returning, psychic attacks, romantic entanglements, and since it is Chicago, the mob. The book and it’s characters are fun and engaging and Neill is at the top of her game, as the ball could be heard connecting with the bat and she has written a home run with Dark Debt. This book is a must read for lovers of the series and for newbies start with book one, and prepare to stay seated in you chair until you finish book eleven. Please remember to hydrate, and eat some mallocakes.

This was an excellent read and I'm actually starting to like the character of Ethan a little more. I've had a love hate relationship with his character through the entire series, until now. He is growing tolerable. Merit and the rest of the characters are awesome as usual. The storyline is superb. Twists, turns, surprises, and some shockers. The plot thickens with new baddies. I was glad Morgan played a bigger roll in this book since he is such an interesting and complicated character. I wished Jonah would have played more into the book. Love his character too. You will laugh out loud with the snark and sarcasm. Everything about this series is intense, interesting, and intriguing which just makes it that much more exciting to look forward to the next book. This is one of those series that never gets boring. It just keeps getting better.

**Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy**While some of my love of the Chicagoland Vampires series stems from its setting in my adopted hometown of Chicago, that alone could not sustain adoration of a series through eleven books. With DARK DEBT, Neill manages to surprise me, and make me fall in love with the characters and the series all over again.Though DARK DEBT appeared longer than previous books in the series (and my unscientific experiment of comparing the thickness of the books more or less confirms this) it didn't feel longer. The action and the drama keep the book moving at a quick pace, with enough moments where the reader can stop and catch their breath while enjoying Merit and Ethan's relationship. One thing I love about Merit is she doesn't do things by halves - whether it's fighting or loving, and that certainly shows in this installment. Her vampire skills continue to improve and her sense of humor manages to hold its own against Ethan's dry, sarcastic wit. Honestly, Merit is most likely the vampire I'd like to be, if such things were possible.One other aspect to the Chicagoland Vampires series that I enjoy is that it hasn't gotten stagnant. Neill managed to completely surprise me with one character's actions near the end of the book, while still making it clear the actions fit that character's personality. Other characters also act in surprising ways, and not necessarily as positively, but the fact of the matter is, they're not the same old, same old, every single book - like real people, they grow and evolve. I also enjoyed the time we got to spend with Mallory and Merit together, since that has been lacking in previous books. The girl time for Merit gives her another, softer side, after she spends all night kicking ass and taking names, and it makes her feel more real.DARK DEBT has all the drama you'd expect it would, with the mystery and the action fitting in perfectly. Merit and Ethan's relationship continues to grow and also manages to be scorching as well. It's a perfect combination of elements, marking the Chicagoland Vampires series as one that continues to be worth reading. Thank goodness there's at least a few more books for me to impatiently wait for!

This book is the latest in the Chicagoland Vampire Series. It is well written with an interesting plot and great characters. Being a series you could not read this as a stand alone without missing out on a lot of pre history from the earlier volumes. Ethan and Merit are surprised by the appearance of the supposedly ancient and assumed long dead vampire who 'made' Ethan. ......and he wants Cadogan house for himself......It has been some months since I read the previous book in the series and I was concerned for how much of the back story I would remember. After the first few pages it was a moot point. Merit and Cadogan House and the whole damn world created by Chloe Neill returned and fit like a well made glove. It was like I was never away. That's what good writing gets you. Good job Chloe Neill. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I can not believe i have not written my review for this book.I love this series so much. Anybody who knows me, knows i have this huge huge soft spot for vampires. They are probably my first love.Merit hasn't been a vampire very long and she's seen her fare share of drama, too much. Will peace ever come between vampires and humans? Will Ethan and Merit get their happily ever after?The villain this time comes in a disguise, a mask, one from Ethan's past. Is he who he says he is? Can he really be Balthazar?I enjoyed this so much, the twists and turns. The ones who think they hold the power, don't actually hold as much power as they think they do. From beyond the grave Celina is still controlling Navarre house.Can not wait for the next book.

Ich mag diese Reihe um die Chicagoland Vampires von Chloe Neill wirklich sehr. Sie hat mich von Anfang an gefesselt. Aber ich muss sagen, nach allen Höhen und Tiefen, die die Leser schon mit Ethan und Merit mitgemacht haben, ist dieser Band doch der bisher beste der Reihe.Zum Inhalt:Ein Vampir wird niemals alt. Aber seine Feinde auch nicht. Als eine dubiose Person aus Ethans dunkler Vergangenheit einen furiosen Auftritt in Chicago hinlegt, wissen Merit und ihr Master nicht, ob er Freund oder Feind ist. Aber sie müssen es schnell herausfinden, denn Ärger braut sich mal wieder über der Windy City zusammen.Auf einer exklusiven Abendveranstaltung der Reichen und Schönen der menschlichen und übernatürlichen Gesellschaft Chicagos, können Merit und Ethan gerade noch den Mord an einem Gast verhindern. Nachdem sie herausfanden, dass das Ziel ein, in kriminelle Machenschaften verwickelter, windiger Geschäftsmann ist, vermutet Merit einen menschlichen Rachefeldzug. Aber die Mörder haben Fangzähne....Die Verbindungen zu den Häusern Chicagos gehen tiefer als Merit denkt und jeder falsche Schritt könnte ihr letzter sein....Meine Meinung:Ethans Schöpfer Balthasar betritt das Parkett- wie schon im letzten Band angekündigt- er ist nicht nur am Leben, sondern auch viel mächtiger als Ethan und Merit vermutet hätten, er durchbricht mühelos jede Barriere, die Merit bisher vor den psychischen Vampirangriffen geschützt haben. Sie ist in großer Gefahr und das macht Ethan eine Höllenangst. Dieser Band gibt dem Leser viel tiefere Einblicke vor allem in Ethans Gefühlswelt, was mal eine erfreuliche Abwechslung ist. Klar hat sich das schon in den letzten Bänden angedeutet, dass wir immer mehr von Ethans innersten Gedanken und Gefühlen erfahren, aber noch nie so eindeutig, wie in diesem Band und nicht nur in Bezug auf seine Liebe zu Merit, sondern auch in Bezug auf die anderen Häuser Chicagos und seiner Vergangenheit. Auch gibt Chloe Neill Wichtiges preis von Joshua Merit und Caroline Merit, der älteren Schwester von Merit, deren Namen sie wie eine Bürde tragen muss. Bisher war der Leser ja immer im Unklaren darüber, was eigentlich mit ihr geschehen ist und warum ihr Vater und Merit, so ein verdammt seltsames Verhältnis zueinander haben. Dazu erfährt man hier wirklich Neues. Und auch Catcher und Mallory treffen wichtige zukunftsweisende Entscheidungen. Die Gestaltwandler und andere übernatürliche Figuren spielen dafür in diesem Band keine wichtige Rolle, die Vorhersage von Gebriel Keene hat in diesem Band keine Priorität und ich denke, das wird auch noch einige Bände auf sich warten lassen.Alles in allem, war dieser Band ziemlich spannend. Ich konnte ihn mal wieder kaum aus der Hand legen.Immer wieder überrascht mich Chloe Neills Ausdrucksweise. ICh mag ihren Schreibstil sehr. Meiner Meinung nach unterscheidet er sich qualitativ doch von vielen anderen Schriftstellerinnen und ist höherwertig. Besonders mag ich ihre Wortwahl.5 Sterne für Band 11 und ich kann Band 12 kaum erwarten.

Okay, so I haven't slept since the first page turn of Dark Debt in the seriously sizzling series Chicagoland Vampires. You keep getting better and I keep wanting more when the dreaded end comes. I can't wait for Ethan and Merit's lives to be written on the pages. No rest for you Chloe Neill. I want more.

Great same charactersBrand new story. Believable and very enjoyable.The best in the series , so far...Keep them coming please 😃