Book Review: Dark Debt by Chloe Neill

Dark Debt
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 11
Publication: NAL (March 3, 2015)

Description: A vampire never gets old. But neither do his enemies. When a figure from Ethan's dark past makes a splashy debut in Chicago, Merit and her Master don't know whether he's friend or foe. But they'll have to figure out soon, because trouble is brewing in the Windy City.

At an exclusive society soiree attended by the upper echelons of the human and supernatural worlds, Merit and Ethan barely stop the assassination of a guest. When the target turns out to be a shady businessman with a criminal edge, Merit suspects a human vendetta. But the assassins have fangs....

The connections to Chicago's Houses go deeper than Merit knows, and even one wrong move could be her last....

My Thoughts: This is the eleventh book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. Ethan's maker Balthasar, long-believed dead, has come to Chicago with revenge on his mind. He wants to claim all the Ethan has built; he feels that he is owed because he is the one who created Ethan. If that weren't enough, a criminal organization that makes the Mob looks like amateurs has decided to take on the vampires. Their opening move is to sink Navarre into debt, ably abetted by Celina's extravagant tastes. Now, Morgan is left to try to pick up the pieces.

Merit comes under attack because of her closeness to Ethan and Balthasar's psychic gifts are triggering vampire vulnerabilities that Merit thought she had escaped. I could feel Merit's horror and terror as she is almost mind-raped by Balthasar. It shakes her confidence and ruins her closeness to Ethan for a while until she comes to terms with it.

The story has a lot of kick-butt action as Merit and Ethan investigate both the Circle and Balthasar. I like Merit's smart remarks. I also like that we got to see quite a bit of Mallory and Catcher in this one as they are planning their marriage while providing magical protection to Cadogan House.

This was an excellent entry into this long-running series. I'm eager to see where the story arc with the Circle goes. I'm also eager to see if Merit ever accepts Ethan's proposal should he finally get around to making one.

Favorite Quote:

Love was acceptance. Love was bravery. Love was sticking it out.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.