Book Review: Twice Bitten

By Sandy Amazeen Jun 29, 2010, 18:26 GMT

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago\'s newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she\'s at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan\'s offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission. ...more

Merit became a vampire after an attacker left her for dead. Master vampire and head of Cadogan House, Ethan Sullivan saved Merit by turning her then appointing the newbie to the position of House Sentinel. As Merit learns her duties and adapts to life as a vampire, she must also deal with her love/hate relationship with Ethan and losing touch with her best friend after a fight. Shapeshifters from around the country are scheduled to meet in Chicago to determine the direction the Pack is to take and Ethan throws Merit into the middle of it by loaning her to Alpha Shifter, Gabriel Keene. Of course, it isn’t simply an altruistic move on Ethan’s part; he is maneuvering Cadogan House in a position to capitalize on the Shifters strengths.

A clandestine meeting puts Merit in touch with a vampire organization so secret it is only whispered about, should Ethan discover she is being recruited to join them he will see it as an enormous betrayal. Still, that is nothing compared to the betrayals both Merit and Gabriel must come to terms with before the Shapeshifter conference is over.

Book three of the Chicagoland Vampires series doesn’t disappoint as it delivers plenty of action with just the right amount of politics, simmering passions and assassins. Merit continues to delight with sharp wit, humor and strength tempered with intelligence. With hints made to the whereabouts of her nemesis, a major change for the Shapeshifters and the developing story between Merit and Ethan, there is plenty of additional fodder for Neill to work with. Fans of Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris or Carrie Vaughn will enjoy this solid urban fantasy series.