ARC Review: Drink Deep by Chloe Neill
Author: Chloe Neill
Book: Drink Deep
Series: Chicagoland Vampires Book 5
Release: November 1, 2011
Reviewer: Doll Leeza
Purchase: - Barnes & NobleClouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can’t tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit…
Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it’s nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. She’ll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who’s behind this, and stop them before it’s too late for both the vampires and humans.
Drink Deep is a Book About Leaps of Faith
For those of you who have read my reviews before, you know that I don’t do spoilers. Drink Deep, the 5th book in the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill, requires a bit more explanation than I usually provide. Some of you may find it spoilerish, but I do protect the main surprises and twists!
Merit: Getting Up After Taking a Hit
Though Merit’s heart has taken a hit with the death of Ethan, she struggles on to do her best for the House. Merit must face many leaps of faith and place her trust in her gut reactions.
Drink Deep opens with a literal, leap-of-faith. In Chapter 1, we find Jonah encouraging Merit to walk off the roof of a building and “fall” like a vampire. Her internal debate as she contemplates the fall reveals her state of mind in the aftermath of Hard Bitten.
Merit’s next struggle in faith is an internal struggle with her love for Ethan. She is unable to move past his death because of unsettling dreams that plague her. Throughout the book, Merit dreams of Ethan and tries to unravel the meaning of those dreams. All those around her are encouraging her to move on, while her heart is not so sure she is ready to make that leap.
Merit’s next test of faith is in trusting her gut instincts as she tries to solve the strange apocalyptic-type disasters that are plaguing the city. During this mystery-sleuthing time, Chloe introduce us to a cast of interesting new paranormal characters. While interacting with these new characters, Merit learns to observe carefully and trust her instincts.
To join the RG or to not join the RG, that is the question! Because of the complete idiocy and callous manner in which the GP treats the vampires under its protection, Merit begins to seriously think about joining the RG. During the course of the book, she and Jonah are often partners, working to solve the city’s troubles. During this time, she is better able to determine if her faith is rightly place in the RG, or if it will be misplaced.
At one point, Merit must make a decision between what she knows is the right thing to do, protect a Cadogan vampire from an untenable situation, or disobey a direct order. Merit comes to a deeper understanding about her responsibility for the House she protects.
Catcher: A Leap of Faith He Refused to Make
Catcher is a wounded man in this book. In previous books he was teaching Merit to trust herself, but when, in this book, her instincts tell him something he doesn’t want to believe, he dismisses her claims. It is ironic that it is his very own prophesy from a previous time that he ends up ignoring! Catcher fans beware: he will really tick you off in Drink Deep!
Malik: Well Founded Faith in His House
In Drink Deep we find Cadogan House besieged by the GP Receivership representative, Frank, who just happens to be a complete toad. Malik does what he can to play the “good GP Master” while trying to protect the vampires of his house. It was so great to see the House place its collective faith in Malik’s ability to protect them. They rally behind him! (For those Harry Potter fans, Frank reminded me of Delores Umbridge!)
Ethan: Dreams to Sustain Us
Ethan: Well, who doesn’t want me to talk about Ethan? Psych! Not gonna do it here! You will just have to wait to see if dreams will forever be the only link to our dearly departed Master! However, I will tease you with a quote: “Ethan? I don’t understand.” “I’m only ashes,” he’d said.
Chloe Keeps Her Snark!
As Chloe is notable for doing, Drink Deep’s more serious moments are liberally balanced with moments of joy and humor. Here are a few of my “giggle” moments:
- “Oh, and speaking of which. Chaps. Enough said.”
- “Mallocakes!” I whispered, my eyes lighting up like roman candles.
- And so it began, I thought, the first wave of a revolution against oppression, fought with corn syrup and chocolate.
- “They cost two hundred bucks.”
“For jeans?’
“They’re butt lifting.”
My Two-Cents!
Woot!
Drink Deep was a great read! I loved the pace of the book, the Agatha Christy worthy mystery-to-solve and I especially loved the lesson in friendships! My heart was equally divided between heartache and joy.
Chloe is great at providing characters with very human faults. She also provides ways for her characters to grow. Catcher’s arrogance takes a well-deserved hit. Malik’s confidence in himself grows. Jonah takes a second-look at first assumptions and decides he has much to admire in Merit! **wink** And, Merit stands up for her own emotional state.
I have enjoyed watching Merit grow into her position. From the moment we were introduced to this recluse researcher in Some Girls Bite, to the current sword-wielding heroine in Drink Deep, I have been attracted to her as a reader. Merit has a classy sense of style and witty humor that just keeps me reading!
Plot lines resolved
We get to see a prophecy resolved, and other plot-related loose ends are tied up for us. We see a bit more character history revealed. No dragging out love triangles for Chloe Fans! (Thanks Chloe!) Fans definitely do get a clear resolution for Ethan. By the end of the book, Merit makes a clear decision in regards to her invitation to join the RG. We also find out the back-story between Ethan and Catcher.
Continuing plot lines
Tate is deliciously surrounded by mystery, sorry fans, just one more thing left for future books to resolve! The shifter/Conor plot line is still to be addressed. What I like to call the Political Machine Plots: the registration act/Mayor/McKetrick/anti-vamp sentiment/GP politics; these plot lines are still in progress! There is never an end to politics in Chicago! We still do not find out the identification of the informant vampire working for Chuck! Grrr.
Of all the books in the series, I have to say that Drink Deep is running even pace with Twice Bitten as my favorite in the series. Two big thumbs up, (or should I say fangs down) for Drink Deep!
~Leeza
WOW! Can. Not. Wait. This is one of those series that really grows on you and one that the author gets better and better with each book!
Thanks L for sharing the review!
Great review and I had some of those thoughts while reading the book.Swoon over Jonah and Ethan.
Awesome review. Thank you. I was really upset after Hardbitten. I am now ready to continue. :-)
I am literally dying for this book! I squeaked out loud at the end of Hard Bitten, then did some crying (ok, a lot of crying, then called my Partner-in-Crime Bells to cry some more). Can. Not. Wait.
Only 13 days left until DD comes out and it’s driving me crazy! After reading the first one I knew I was hooked… Each book seems to be getting better and better, Chloe is a great writer/author. Really cannot wait to see what Chloe has instore for this book!
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