Review: House Rules by Chloe Neill

House Rules 

by Chloe Neill 

(Chicagoland Vampires #7) 

Published February 5th 2013 by NAL Penguin

Source: From Publisher for honest review

In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal —tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined

REVIEW

This is book 7 in a series, so don't be surprised if I talk about plots in earlier books. If you're not update on the series you may want to come back and read my review once you've read House Rules. 

 "I think Chloe Neill has finally brought the series back around to where I can be excited about it again." - The Book Nympho




I'm going to be honest... I've not been in love with Chicagoland since Drink Deep. No, I did not "die" after Hard Bitten ending with Ethan's death. I don't mind a main character dying if it adds to the over all plot of the series. I felt like his death was done well and had meaning.

I had a little hard time with Ethan coming back because I thought it lowered the meaning of him dying to save Merit. But I got over it and was glad Merit could stop mourning and have her Dark Sullivan back.....

But I hoped that the back and forth, we can be together, no we can't BS was done. Nope. So I dragged my feet starting House Rules because this issue was still playing out in Biting Cold and I really didn't want more of Mallory. After she went all Willow (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) I don't care about her. I want her gone.

After being told about others that House Rules has more of a feel that the early books has I was like ok, it's time to finally read it. It took me almost two weeks to finish it. Why? I just couldn't get into until about the last quarter of it and then I stayed up late to finish it.

Does it feel like the earlier books? NO. But I was happy to see that we got little of Mallory in this installment. And it seems like Ethan has FINALLY made up his mind to stand up for his relationship with Merit and back her 100%.  I feel like House Rules should have came after Drink Deep and could have skipped Biting Cold.

I think Chloe Neill has finally brought the series back around to where I can be excited about it again. I'm actually looking forward to Biting Bad and even more so for Wild Things since by the cover it looks like we will get more of the werewovles.

Next in the series: