Midnight Marked

March 21, 2016
Neill's strong 12th Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy (after Dark Debt) deftly builds on the heroine's actions and emotional history while introducing new complications into her personal and political worlds. It's been a year since Caroline Evelyn Merit became a vampire, and she has come into her own as Sentinel of Cadogan House, a leader in the Chicago supernatural community, and a capable and likable protagonist. Merit is en route to a Cubs game with her significant other, master vampire Ethan Sullivan, and their friends when they make an alarming discovery: the body of a shape-shifter who's clearly been murdered by a vampire, near a construct of mysterious alchemy symbols. Merit engages in alliances of varying success among Cadogan House, the other vampire houses, and the local shape-shifter packs and magic-wielders, trying to figure out whodunit, as another conflict develops from the machinations of the local criminal mastermind and his supernatural empire, the Circle. Series fans will be delighted by developments in Ethan and Merit's romance and impressed by Neill's willingness to take some narrative risks. Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency.

March 15, 2016

Merit has been a vampire for over a year, and serving as sentinel to master vampire (and boyfriend) Ethan has meant confronting a lot of enemies along the way. Having just overcome their latest adversary, Adrien Reed, Merit, Ethan, and her friends hope to enjoy a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Unfortunately, Reed is determined to destroy Cadogan House, the second-oldest vampire dwelling in Chicago, and take over the Windy City, and he is using other supernaturals to do it. Merit knows how to tackle opponents, but what happens when some of those are her own kind? Taking on this battle will test her limits and reveal a truth that can be traced to her beginnings as a vampire. VERDICT Neill (Dark Debt) keeps the series fresh with its fast pace and modern heroine. Merit shines with a sharp mind and strength that will appeal to fans of Ilona Andrews's "Kate Daniels" and Faith Hunter's "Jane Yellowrock" urban fantasies.--KC

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2016
In book 12 of the Chicagoland Vampires series, vampire Merit attempts to attend a Cubs night game with her Master (and lover), Ethan, along with her best friend, Mallory, and Mallory's husband. When Mallory senses some strange magic, she leads them to the dead body of a shape-shifter. They arrive just in time to give chase to the killer, another vampire. He eludes capture and, to save the alliance with the shape-shifters, they investigate the murder. Sorcery, alchemy, and a friendly necromancer contribute to the supernatural fun. The comradely banter between the characters and the continued hot romance between Merit and Ethan add to the enjoyment of the book. Chicago readers will be put off by the occasional factual error the author makes about the city. But series fans (and non-Chicagoans) will not notice and will welcome the return of Merit, Ethan, and the rest of the Cadogan House vampires. Give this series to your urban-fantasy readers and also to fans of J. D. Robb's In Death seriesdevotees of Eve and Roarke will enjoy the similar romantic interplay between Merit and Ethan.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)