Book Review: Blade Bound by Chloe Neill

Blade Bound
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires (Book 13)
Publication: Berkley (April 25, 2017)

Description: The thrilling final installment of Chloe Neill’s New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series sees sinister sorcery advancing across Chicago, and it might usher in the fall of Cadogan House....

Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation into a vampire, Merit has stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House. She’s saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side.

When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire who seems to be under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have imagined. As malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It is her last chance to save everything—and everyone—she loves.

My Thoughts: BLADE BOUND concludes the Chicagoland Vampires series. It begins with a wedding. Merit and Ethan are set to tie themselves together for eternity. We get to tag along on Merit's girls night out where she and friends overindulge on chocolate. Things have been quiet in Chicago for four months after Sorcha's defeat but, naturally, things can't stay that way.

The night before the wedding Merit surprises a vampire in Ethan's office who seems to be mentally ill. He is frantic because he is hearing voices. The next day when Merit and Ethan are taking wedding pictures they come upon a riot where humans hearing voices are fighting.

Something is going on in Chicago. Both Gabriel and Mallory have has a sense of unease. It shouldn't be Sorcha since the wizards have put up wards that should trigger if she comes back to Chicago. But next the weather starts getting colder. While snow in August isn't impossible, the temperature and the amount of snow, especially since it is falling from a clear sky, make it clear that something magical is happening.

The center of the magical disturbance is traced to Sorcha's Towerline building. Ethan and Merit break in and discover Sorcha's workroom and manage to gather some of her notes before needing to leave ahead of guards. Mallory and Catcher manage to decipher the cryptic notes which show that Sorcha is building a magical construct to help her get revenge on Chicago, Merit and Mallory.

This story was action-packed and filled with new dangers for Merit and Ethan. Merit has her courage tested. She and Ethan are still trying to decide what they feel about the prophecy that they will have the first vampire child. Merit is very concerned for that future child's safety.

This was a great conclusion to an excellent series. I look forward to seeing where Neill takes the spinoff series which will begin in 2018.

Favorite Quote:

"And we know the fireball juju doesn't work," I said. "So what will?"

"The world's biggest bear trap?" Mallory asked. "Extra-large elephant gun? Freeze ray?"

"Excellent ideas, Wile E. Coyote."

Mallory growled. 

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