eh. not bad but not amazing. Read this if you're planning on keeping up with the series. ( )

I like this series but I do not love it. I have given it 4 stars but its really more of a 3.5 in my opinion. I have continued to read this story because I am just enough interested with the story to want ot know how it ends. Basically everything about this is just alright for me the characters are good not great, the story is fairly interesting and the writing is decent. It is in no way bad but it is not one of my favorites either. ( )

The book did grab my attention in the beginning like this series usually does, but the middle and end more than make up for that. ( )

Listened to audio narrated by Sophie Eastlake. Merit and crew are working to find the vampire who killed a shifter and the related sorcerer casting alchemy symbols all over the city. The Circle is still antagonizing them all, there's a new bad vamp and sorcerer and we learn about new types of supernaturals. Getting old is the 'will he finally ask Merit to marry him' line and the prophesy of Merit and Ethan having the first born vampire baby, that's been all talk and no action in the past few books. I still like these characters and their lives but certain threads are dragging out too long and the characters falling for clear ploys by the bad guys is frustrating when we know they should know better than to fall for them.
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Midnight Marked
3.5 Stars

The vampires and the shifters in the Windy City find themselves at odds when the body of a shifter is discovered and a vampire is the suspected killer. As the facts emerge, Merit and Ethan are once again immersed in the machinations of a recent foe whose future plans for Chicago will have dire consequences for every supernatural.

While entertaining overall, this installment in the Chicagoland Vampires doesn't really add anything particularly original or exciting to the series.

The secret society plot from the previous book plays out in a predictable fashion and the inclusion of alchemy into the storyline is rather confusing (as alchemy tends to be), and its contribution is minimal at best.

In terms of the romance, it is clear that Merit and Ethan will always overcome all obstacles. Consequently, the conflict between them in this book feels forced mainly due to the fact that Ethan's spoiled and boorish behavior is completely out of character.

Finally, the inclusion of details concerning Mallory and Catcher's relationship is nauseating. My intense dislike for both of them is no secret and the series would have been better if they had both been disposed of early on.

All in all, it is evident that Neill's CLV books have lost momentum, but I am hopeful that the series will end on a high note in the final installment.
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