Midnight Marked: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

Chloe Neill never fails to excite readers with this series. Ethan and Merit just wanted to have a 'normal' night out and suddenly there are problems left right and center to deal with. The action keeps going, the snark every amusing (eg. Unicorn farts = potential untapped energy source), and the story just pulls the reader along until you realize you've read all night and the book is done. I'm sad to know this series will be ending soon, but enjoyed every minute of it!

"I meant only to protect you, because you're the closest thing to family I've known in four hundred years. You are my miracle."English is not my primary language, but I’m trying to write a review.This is the twelfth novel of the Chicagoland Vampires series, but only a year has passed since the beginning.In this book Ethan takes Merit a Cubs game with Mallory and Catcher in Wrigleyville, but instead of the entertainment they find a dead shifter in an alley. On the walls of the alley there are some signs of the alchemy.The story of Adrien Reed continues and we’d really like to know who is the mysterious sorcerer? And who is the mysterious vampire who seems to help Reed’s group?Our characters try to save the city from the enemy as always.Gabriel Keene, the Apex of the North-American shifters shows up again, but there is a tension between he and Ethan.I love so much the characters in this series, especially Merit who is my best book heroine forever. Thanks to Ms. Neill that she created this character. She is loyal, sarcastic, intelligent, brave and stubborn in a fun way. I loved the way she tells the members of the RG some home truth. Because isn’t the Cadogan House the one who always investigates, helps the others, and takes a risk? "I’m sure you've had plenty of conversations about me, and this is my chance to speak my piece. Here's the question you have to ask yourselves: Are you going to keep wasting your time on me, on Ethan, when there are enemies out there with plans to bring the city to its knees? Instead of joining us, instead of helping fight, are you going to keep debating whether I'm the enemy? Here's a tip: I'm not."Please don’t read more if you mind the spoiler. *** Warning: SPOILER ***There is still so many unanswered question:- Gabriel’s prophecy about the green eyed child and Merit’s defence of the little Connor- Catcher’s prophecy about Merit will be a Master Vampire and there will be (or it’s possible) a House of her own- The mental connect between Merit és Morgan (maybe it’s not the most important question, but I’m interested in)- Merit’s nickname what Ethan has given her. :DOf course I’d like to see a wedding.I like that the author didn’t forget the important things from Merit’s human life, like Wrigleyville. Ethan is so thoughtful about it and the engagement ring. It’s so kind he researched a little and choose a ring which was associated with Merit’s dissertation.Okay, to be honest, I prefer the propose in an intimate setting and not in front of crowd… but still I liked it too. ;) It was soo cute.I hope in the next book our heroes will have a little daughter with the green eyes of Ethan and the personality of Merit. Ethan would be so happy with a little Merit. ;)I also hope that the child is conceived in natural way and not with using magic or other mystic way.***SPOILER END ****Too bad that only one book will be released. I can’t wait for it.

In Dark Debt we left our Chicagoland Vampires in a state of conflict with a group called The Circle, headed by one Adrian Reed.When it looks like a vampire was responsible for the death of a shifter near Wrigley field, Merit knows there has to be more to it. When mysterious alchemical writing is also found near the body, it doesn't take long to determine that The Circle is somehow connected. What Merit and Co. have to figure out is to what purpose The Circle is connected, and ultimately what is Adrian Reed's end goal.I really loved Dark Debt, and when I compare Midnight Marked to Dark Debt, it falls a little bit short than its predecessor. This isn't a bad thing I still enjoyed Midnight Marked more than other installments in the series, but for me Dark Debt was a really strong addition.The good things that Chloe Neill had built up in this series are all here. Merit and Ethan continue to grow as a couple. They continue to love and fight - although now I don't fear their fights are an end to their relationship - their devotion to one another is clear, and I love seeing their interactions as they continue to grow.I really felt like Midnight Marked had a great deal of the Merit and Mallory friendship dynamic, which is something from the earlier books that I love and was missed for a while in a few books when Mallory took a walk on the dark side, and was then awkward as they tried to rebuild their friendship to what it was. Things were really solid for them in this book.The actual conflict between the vampires and Adrian Reed / The Circle kind of fell short for me. Steps that should have been taken in the investigation were clouded over because personal things got in the way. I love taking time out for the personal, I really do, but Ethan acting overly protective of Merit just didn't feel right. We know she can take care of herself (we've seen this for what twleve books now?), so when he goes all Alpha-male it felt, to me, like something he was "supposed" to do (kind of like a checklist). Because of situations like this, there were things clearly missed in the investigation - things I spotted from a mile away - and when they were revealed by the end, I wasn't surprised, it felt lackluster.Something done really well in Midnight Marked was calling out the fact that all sups need to work together instead of being on opposing sides with one another. The beginning of the book (with the shifter killed by a vampire) already amps up tension between the pack and vampires again. We've seen the vampires (especially Cadogan House) get blamed for a myriad of things, and they always come out fighting with little to no help from other sups. Midnight Marked addresses this big time, and all I can say is FINALLY! But with Midnight Marked being the penultimate book in the series, I'm very interested to know how this trickles down into the next and final installment.I feel like the last book is going to have to be about 500+ pages. I know I've been keeping a mental list of things I want to see happen in the course of the books (not assumed to happen off page), and I'm a little worried that not all those things will come to fruition on page. Chloe Neill has built up a lot of stuff (especially with certain ahem*prophecies*ahem) and over the course of the last few books they've been brought up regularly. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Midnight Marked brings a lot of storylines full-circle. It's been a year since Merit was turned (a year since Some Girls Bite) and I liked that readers get some of the earlier mysteries put to rest so to speak.Overall, Midnight Marked was another great addition to one of my favorite series. I love how much the characters have grown and changed. If you're a long-time reader of the series, this one cannot be missed.

Chloe Neill never disappoints. It's just sad that this is nearing the end of the series. I wish it would continue indefinitely.

I loved Midnight Marked just as much as I love the rest of The Chicagoland Vampires books. I'm sad to see it coming to an end though as can be seen in this fantastic book.