Title:Â Friday Night Bites
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: New American Library
Source: Columbus Metropolitan Library
Vamps in Chicago!
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.
This book had a bit of a mystery feel to it. Merit’s Scooby Gang (Mallory – fledgling sorcerer; Catcher – excommunicated sorcerer; Jeff – computer genius and supernatural being; and Ethan – Vampire Master and supreme strategist) gets to investigate the raves. Merit’s former high school sweetheart blackmails Merit and Ethan into it. Meanwhile, the shifters are getting ready to meet in Chicago to discuss if they are going to keep their presence from humans hidden or not.
The attraction Ethan and Merit feel for each other yet deny at every turn creates an underlying tension to their encounters. When they relax and engage in witty banter it’s very entertaining. I admit I’m rooting for them to have a relationship at some point in the series.
The ending of this one made me say “Argh!” because it ended on a cliffhanger. I had to get my hands on the third book in the series immediately!