Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires)

4.5/5 Stars

This review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog.

Disclaimer: This review is not going to contain any spoilers for Blade Bound but it could spoil earlier books in the series.

It's really hard to review the last book in such a long and epic series. To be honest, it still hasn't sunk in that there will be no more Ethan and Merit books after this one. I can't believe the series is over. I feel like we've come a long ways with the characters. Merit, Ethan, and the gang have changed so much since we were introduced to them in Some Girls Bite. I'm kind of not ready to say good bye to everybody.

Blade Bound starts about four months after the end of Midnight Marked on the eve of Merit and Ethan's wedding. It's been a somewhat peaceful period as everyone waits for the sorceress, Sorcha Reed, to come back to carry out her revenge on the Cadogan House and their allies for foiling her plans.

I enjoyed the heck out of this book and I think Chloe Neill delivered a great ending to the series. There were swoony Ethan moments, some kickass fight scenes, and some delicious food descriptions. This book felt a bit nostalgic as characters that haven't been seen for a few books make an appearance. I loved how Sorcha's magic manifested itself.

While I'm not ready to be done with Ethan and Merit, I'm quite pleased with where their story ended. It still makes me sad that it's over but I'm excited to get details on the spin-off series. I'm so happy we're going to get more of this world! I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that we'll see more of a certain badass necromancer as well as the Master and Sentinel of Cadogan House in the spin-off.

*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

Another great tale abuse our 2 favorite vampires adventures! Withholding spoilers, a long awaited question is answered and their is a glimpse of happiness on the horizon for Darth Sullivan and his Duchess.

Blade Bound is the final installment for Merit and Ethan. For me, it was the perfect way to end their journey. It brought their story full circle. I loved how it had references to when they first met and how their love evolved. I couldn't put this book down and even though I loved the ending, I still didn't want it to be over.

Merit has grown so much even though it had only been a year. She had discovered what she was capable of and found the love of her life. She has an inner strength and loyalty that really matches no other.

I love Ethan. He has also grown since meeting Merit. He had learned how love affects people and how it effects everything in his life. Ethan has always known what Merit is made of and made sure that she had the opportunity to become the person she was meant to be.

Blade Bound also had all the characters that we have grown to love throughout this series. From Luc and Lindsey, Jeff and Merit's grandfather to Catcher and Mallory. And yes Catcher is still tying to get a Lifetime movie made out of their story.

This story has everything in it that makes the Chicagoland Vampire Series so great. I really like how it highlights that fact that the humans and vampires still do not have a great relationship but the vampires will find a way to save the city. I also couldn't get enough of their wedding. It touched on everything that makes them so great together. I'm sad that this series has ended but I'm looking forward to the spinoff series and hope for some cameos.

I have been a fan of the series from the beginning, but the more it wears on, the more packed and sloppier it gets. If books take this long to get out, you'd think they could spell dragon correctly, not dargon (among other instances, like wild hare). They are also becoming redundant, with the word "steel" more often than "Ethan."

A fun beach read, but clearly past it's prime. The shark has been jumped.

Chloe says goodbye in a very Merit way that couldn't have been better. With sarcasm, bravery, love, framily (friends + family = framily) and the need to do her best for her framily and the city she loves. It was wonderful to see how much Ethan and Merit have grown into the vamps that they, how they bring out the best in each other and have and how much stronger they are together. It is amazing to see how all of the Sups in Chicago have rallied around Merit and become such a wonderful framily that kicks butt.How they are no longer out just for themselves but out for the good of all. Oh and the epilogue how could you not love that! If you are a fan of this series you will LOVE this book. If you have not read earlier books you will need to before starting this book.

When I first found out that Blade Bound would be the last in the Chicagoland Vampires Series, I was sad but also concerned. I read another series that the author wrote that left you hanging, no ending with no plans to finish the series. With the Chicagoland Vampires, due to all of the open possibilities - NAC PAC Gabriel Keene's predictions and all of the other endings that needed to be addressed, I couldn't wait for the book while simultaneously dreading the novel. I just felt there were too many things that needed to come to a close and the author couldn't possibly do that. I have bought these books faithfully through all of its up and down. However, I was wrong! Ms Neill did a wonderful job of doing the series justice. I was extremely happy on how things ended. I'm glad she really took the time and energy in ending the book like she did. I can't wait for the next chapter of her new series! (I really can't get more descriptive because I'm trying not to write any spoilers). For anyone that has read the series from beginning to end, the book will not disappoint. MUST READ!!!

Love this book! Definitely answered all the uncertainties in previous books. Loved the beautiful wedding, Merit & Ethan's devotion for each other, Catcher & Mallory, the whole gang all worked together against chaos. Love reading about Gabriel's prophecy coming to fruition. With all the hardship and tribulation, the ending is a happy one. I'll miss Merit and the gang. However, I'm happy there's a new beginning with the heirs of chicago series!

I've loved the journey of Merit & Ethan, plus all of their friends. This was a difficult read, but only because it is the last installment in the series and it was like saying goodbye to your best friends. If I could give this whole series more than 5 ⭐️ I would. Chloe does not disappoint and this is a 1-click buy as with all of Chicagoland books. DO NOT RUIN THE BOOK BY SKIPPING TO THE END, because you will be pleasantly surprised!!! ?❤️?

I've loved the journey of Merit & Ethan, plus all of their friends. This was a difficult read, but only because it is the last installment in the series and it was like saying goodbye to your best friends. If I could give this whole series more than 5 ⭐️ I would. Chloe does not disappoint and this is a 1-click buy as with all of Chicagoland books. DO NOT RUIN THE BOOK BY SKIPPING TO THE END, because you will be pleasantly surprised!!! ?❤️?

This thirteenth book is the big finish for the Chicagoland Vampires series. Readers who have been along for this wild ride have been though many trials and tribulations with Merit, Ethan, and their friends in each book of the series. There are always high expectations for grand finales and for the most part, this book meets them. We have seen quite a build-up to Merit and Ethan’s engagement and wedding; happily, the actual event does not disappoint. The wedding was really very well done and left a tear or two in my eye. Vampires and Merit’s prominent parents know how to throw a wedding in high style. And because this is Merit, you know things will not stay calm or sane very long.

Everyone in Chicago, supernatural and humans alike, has been on edge since the evil sorceress Sorcha disappeared. When people start behaving strangely as an unknown power focuses a mental attack causing chaos and bizarre behavior, it seems to be a harbinger of her return. All of Chicago is now at risk and when the wicked witch roars back onto the scene, everything that held promise for Merit and Ethan, including Gabriel’s prophecy for a vampire child, is put in danger. Every one of Merit, Ethan, as well as Mallory and Catcher’s, skills will be tested in this epic battle. All of the supernatural community as well as the humans has a part to play in this as for once, they work together to save their city.

The action is intense and as usual, Merit takes things and her life to the brink much to Ethan’s dismay. The vampires and other supernaturals are still dealing with some prejudice and blame, but finally there seems to be some genuine cooperation happening with the politicos including the mayor who has mostly just given them grief and placed responsibility for the cities’ problems until recently on them. While there are some twists and turns, this book is mainly about bringing the storyline to fruition in a satisfying way. All in all, BLADE BOUND gives a good end to the series with an epilogue that shows a glimpse of their life to come with all of its interesting possibilities.

This was without question the worst book in the series. If the first one had been so poorly written I would have stopped reading halfway through. This one felt like it had been written by a shadow writer who was only vaguely familiar with the other books.

The first third of the book dealt only with the wedding. It was just "filler" material to make the book a little longer. The rest of the book wasn't much better. It lacked the snarky dialogue of the previous books. It also seemed like they touched on every character and species they've ever dealt with before. Sorry but this book was a waste of time and money!

This was such a good series in the beginning. You had a snarky heroine who grew in self confidence as the series went on. Then I had to stop reading the series and started over (life interrupted). Once again, I fell in like with Merit--she was the badass that we all secretly wish we were. She gave as good as she got and made no apologies. Then, somewhere around the last three or four books, she suddenly goes all quivery because Ethan seems about to propose. EVERYTHING that made Merit a badass went straight down the toilet.

Why, oh why, do authors think that every woman just wets herself over the possibility of having a child? Is it really necessary to cater to the mommy crowd? (I'm NOT knocking women who are mothers, not at all, but only in the context of this story). Having a child is often a legitimate part of a story, but for a vampire? Really? Do I need to point out all of the contradictions?

Merit is involved with a man who's over four hundred years old, but suddenly he decides she's the "one" and he's hinting like mad that he's going to propose...all in less than a year...and she suddenly turns into every hormonal teenage girl mooning over a high school crush. From badass to simpering teeny bopper in just one novel (not this one). Wow. Then, miracle of miracles, she's to deliver the first vampire baby? Sorry, but even with the magic connection, no way.

Everyone in the book seems to be the biggest badass (but beautiful), the best looking (but a badass), rich (but gorgeous and a badass) complete with green eyes.

Someone said it before me, but the last few books in the series were so disappointing. The author stopped caring about the characters and just began churning out the same-old, same-old. I will say I liked the line when Sorcha died. It was probably one of the best.

I really hate writing this because I was such a major fan of the series. Badly done, Chloe. Badly done. Merit and Ethan deserved better.

This is the end and it was disappointing. It was not written well. Some of the story was tiring to read. Last book in the series and it was disappointing and leaving a lot to be desired at times. It just fell short all around. The whole story involving Sorcha was a negative. The story was just ridiculous. I couldn't believe it was taken there.

I really didn't like the damper put on the wedding night. There was already one slight one that made me want to jump in the story and punch Merit's father and slap her mother. I wish the other waited until after the honeymoon, or after a couple days into their honeymoon. I just wanted that for them after all they've been through already. To see some more relationship between Merit and Ethan.

Ethan's bouts of possessiveness had me giggling. Especially when he addressed Gabriel's nickname for Merit. Which Gabriel ignored and had me smiling some more.

I was confused by going to break into the bad witch's home, to look for witch related things, but the two witches who are the best friend and her husband don't go? That had me puzzled as to why such would be written. Made Merit and Ethan look kind of on the dumb side.
And since things fell under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, why is it they'd not be able to gain access anyway, no sneaking needed? They're in middle of a crisis. Did not make even the slightest sense they'd not be given access.

Sorcha was way to juvenile acting, a petulant child. Caused lots of eye-rolling and thoughts of "seriously?" Brought the story down. What was the purpose of writing about sharpshooters, when not even a shot was fired? But I sure had a giggle when what happened did happen. More humor at Catcher's comment afterwards. And Mallory's following question? I did do!

We don't even get to see any of Merit's pregnancy, none of Ethan during that pregnancy. Huge disappointment! We skip to first birthday. And a baby who says way more words than she should be able to at just turned one.

Editor, where you at? Wedding ceremony had the flower girl walking first. What happened with before the bride? her parents walked down right before her. Didn't like that at all. They didn't deserve it.
The wedding ring is placed on the third finger, NOT the fourth. The fourth finger is the pinkie finger! Yes, I know people say we have five fingers. I think that's out of laziness that came about, easier to say. We have four fingers and a thumb.
Logan didn't make Merit, Ethan did. Logan left her for dead, making it necessary for Ethan to make her.
There were a few other minor issues that I thought should have been caught.

Overall, the book just wasn't great, should have been better, better put together to wrap things up. It wasn't and that's just sad for this series. There's a series coming featuring Merit and Ethan's child. I won't be reading that. This series didn't end well enough, which is a sign the spinoff will not be good.

It’s the end of an era! I cannot believe how quickly Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series has come and now gone! Blade Bound is the exciting finale we’ve all been waiting for! And while I am always sad to see a series end, I also enjoy seeing my favorite characters get a well-earned happy ending! And you can pretty much bet on Chloe doing that for us!

As we all know by now, Merit and Ethan are in love and engaged. I was actually surprised by how quickly the wedding came up in the book! This is it folks! The moment we’ve all been waiting for since these two finally got serious! The wedding is takes over the first few chapters and with only the start of otherworldly shenanigans. Soon though, those shenanigans hit Chicago in full force!

A vampire is plagued with something that essentially makes him a bit crazy. He’s hearing voices and nearly attacks Merit. We then see whatever this malady is infect humans and it’s time for our favorite heroes to once again, save the day. Some honeymoon, right? It’s not long before they get an inkling of an idea about who’s behind all the chaos.

I must say, this was quite the exciting novel! We had a lot of excitement going on in this one, first with all the wedding happenings and then the big bang of problems that tend to float to Chicago like a moth to flame! And while this is the final book for this series in particular, I kind of liked how it read just like any of the other novels. There’s no grandeurs of goodbyes happening, those little moments that you can see that tend to be the final farewells. Granted, Chloe does have a spinoff series, from what I’ve heard, but even disregarding that, I like how this doesn’t necessarily feel like a goodbye though at the same time, being a marvelous sendoff to the great land of Happily Ever After…hopefully. I mean you never know these days!

I once again found myself delighting in the romance that is still very much between Merit and Ethan. A wedding certainly didn’t dull things between them. Not that I expected it to. Really, I felt like a wedding just made things official for them! Lol! Needless to say there were quite a few toe-curling moments between these two. And let’s also not forget the incredible humor and snark that is always Merit! I loved how that never changed about her either. Especially with her and Mallory! These two definitely make my top bookish BFFs list! Their friendship is just that great!

The conclusion to this one was quite explosive! I hadn’t really been expecting that amount of excitement, but at the same time, I kind of was! The details though, those are always what blow me away and naturally, Chloe blew me away yet again with this one! Thankfully not for the final time, as she will still be writing something down the line! Lol! And the epilogue was a seriously nice touch! Sometimes we like to just imagine where our characters might end up in the future and other times we need to know. This was definitely one of those times that I was happy to know! It was such a sweet and happy moment for our characters! It was a well-written one for sure!

The Chicagoland Vampires series has been one that’s been with me from the very moment I stumbled upon Some Girls Bite! A book featuring a heroine wearing jeans and a tank top rather than the leather she’d soon don, drew my eye immediately and it’s been one of the best decisions I ever made (we’re talking pre-serious blogging years!)! This series has had it all, action, humor, romance, incredible characters, and stories that just grip you! It doesn’t hurt that Chicago is a place I am familiar with somewhat due to all my road trips. Chicagoland Vampires is a series that will always remain close to my heart as it was an immediate favorite of mine. I am happy to have joined Merit in this journey! And I most definitely looking forward to whatever else Chloe Neill will write next! Hopefully you will too! The series is done! It’s safe to read beyond Hard Bitten, y’all!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

4.5 stars

The Chicagoland Vampires series comes to an end with a bang!
I have been following this series ever since the first book came out. I really enjoyed Blood Bound as a final story with Merit as a protagonist. I know I will miss not only her but all the secondary characters that made the series so special.

Chicagoland is not the best UF (Urban Fantasy) out there, at times I wish we had followed a socndary character's POV (Point if View), just because it seemed more interesting. However Merit and co.'s adventures did keep me coming back for more, even if it was to find out was going on with Mal and Catcher, Gabriel, Jeff, Malik, Luc and Lindsey, Jonah and so on...

All in all, I feel Blade Bound might be the best entry to the series and solid ending. I am glad to know there will be a spin-off and in my eyes there are options for it... I actually wish we get both lol

Blade Bound is a must read of you are a fan of the Chicagoland Vamp series! There is a lot of action and swoon-worthy moments. Here's to more adventures in this great world!

I've been a fan of the Chicagoland Vampires series since I picked up the first book in August, 2013. After almost four years my love affair with this series has come to an end... and even though I was excited to get the last book, I'm sad that the series is over. Blade Bound was the perfect ending to the series, where I was able to see one of the happiest moments of Merit and Ethan's lives and I saw the epic showdown that tested everyone that I've come to love!

Since I first met Merit, she has grown into her position as Sentinel in Cadogan house; she is a fierce protector of those she now calls family. Along with Ethan, and their friends they will do anything to protect Chicago from the new threat on their city. However, this book wasn't just about hard times, there were plenty of happy moments that had me smiling as I saw the love and devotion that Merit and Ethan had for each other.

Blade Bound was a challenge for everyone, as the threat took over Chicago, but it was hard for Merit as Gabriel's prophecy hinged on the outcome of this showdown. It was always in the back of my mind while I was reading, and I had my fingers crossed throughout the story. I did see some hints dropped throughout the book, but it just added to the excitement of what was unfolding.

Chloe Neill has a writing style that hooked me every time. I love her world building, how attached I became to the characters and the humour that she entwined throughout the story. I will never forget Merits love for mallow-cakes and pizza, her love for Darth Sullivan, and the strong person she had become. But what I loved most was the Epilogue! My heart melted and I was excited to get that final glimpse... because I think we'll be getting more from this world in the future!

I have to be completely honest here. I just couldn't see it. I mean we all knew going into Blade Bound that it was going to be the last Chicagoland Vampires book. And yet, how could we possibly say goodbye to Ethan and Merit, Jonah and the Red Guard, Mallory and Catcher or Gabriel and the North American pack? And, as with so many of the books in this series, the villain seemed unbeatable and the craziness just plain off the charts. We got to see a vampire wedding, a warning from Gabriel that the vampire child may not be coming and we all knew that we had not seen the end of Sorcha.

About halfway through the book, I started to get really scared though. Ethan had already returned from death, much to all our surprise. But I started to wonder if maybe the way this book ended the series was with everyone's death or confinement. And so it took me a while to wrap my head around finishing this book, come what may. I had carefully avoided all reviews and spoilers while I wrapped my head around the fact that this ending was here. But about halfway through, I had to have a little faith--in Chloe Neill and in myself. I could take whatever came in the series.

I won't spoil the ending. But I will say that my faith paid off in ways unimaginable. And that is the key to this whole series. Despite being a jaded paranormal romance reader who thought she had seen everything, this series constantly came out of left field. Consistently, we found ourselves wondering how all our heroes could possibly pull this one off. And they always, somehow did. It's sad to be saying goodbye to our intrepid heroes but the series ended on a high note rather than disappointment.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I highly recommend this book, and the series itself. It's lighthearted and campy and unbelievable at times, but these characters will soon hold a piece of your heart, as they did mine!

I look forward to discussing all of this with fellow fans at my site bestbooklover dot net

Thirteenth (and last) in this part of the Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series revolving around Merit, the Cadogan House Sentinel, and her love, Ethan "Darth" Sullivan, Master of the House.

My Take
Yep, it's the last of the Chicagoland Vampires in this generation. You'll just have to keep an eye out for Wild Hunger , the first in the Heirs of Chicagoland coming in 2018. It should be just as fun as this series has been.

Meantime, "who's getting married in the evening! Ding dong! The bad guys are gonna chime…" 'Cause, yeah, that's how they roll in Chicagoland Vampires. A disaster every minute. God forbid Merit and Ethan actually get the whole wedding thing. Although, Merit did have a nice start on it with the bachelorette party Lindsey and Mallory planned. The things you can do with chocolate…talk about YUM!

"The ideal bachelorette party is one where you can "objectify his body and his brain …'cause he gives good word…"

It does sound as though the ceremony and the decor were gorgeous. And that dress! Oh, lordy. It sounds so pretty.

It's pretty much the same ol', same ol' with a nice bit of tension, as the core gang tries to figure out how to take down the bad girl and her new pet. At the same time, Neill has woven in Gabe's prediction about the child.

And for some reason, Neill just had to toss in a really lame trope to, what? Create some tension? Drama? It was superfluous and unnecessary. Worse, Neill never went anywhere with it. Oh, she did resolve it later in the book, but what was the point of even bringing it in?

I do like that Merit and Mallory call people on their actions, lol. That fairy snarks, and Mallory snarks right back — you go, girl! I liked how the girls summed up Sorcha's actions. And too true they were.

It's this attitude that Neill has toward her characters and the plot beats that makes me characterize the series as young adult. And no, I don't mean to be offensive to young adult readers. Neill simply doesn't put thought into her scenarios. Can the cops and politicians really be this obtuse about how useful the Order will be? Do they seriously not check them out? They've experienced what the Houses can do, and compared to the Order…hmphh, I know who I'd trust. As for their deciding so quickly about Sorcha's demands…yep, their response is juvenile as well. Neill could at least have written some argument into this…*eye roll*…

Crack me up: "How exactly, did one bottle blood that was 'shade grown'?"

What's the deal with this Cadogan House tradition that has never been done before??

Okay, yeah, the ending was cute and about time, but it was too easy. Especially after the actions of the politicos throughout the story. One press conference and ta-dahhh??

The Story
Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation to vampire, Merit’s 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.

Now the House has been infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire seemingly under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have ever imagined. As a malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It’s her last chance to save everything … and everyone … she loves.

The Characters
Merit "Duchess" has stood as the House Sentinel and protector almost from the very start in Some Girls Bite , 1. She's been much less conspicuous as the House social chair. Mallory Carmichael, the shadowed girl, is her dearest friend, maid of honor, and a sorceress with issues. She's married to Catcher Bell, a sorcerer.

Merit's father, Joshua, is more interested in doing business with Merit Properties while her mother, Meredith, obsesses with committees and social doings. Charlotte is Merit's sister (and her bridesmaid); Olivia is her little girl (and the flowergirl). Her brother, Robert, and his wife, Elizabeth, aren't interested in Merit now that she's a vampire…and since she queered his deal with Adrien Reed.

Ethan "Darth" Sullivan, a.k.a., Bloodletter, is the Master of Cadogan House and Merit's love. Balthasar had been Ethan's sire. Amit Patel is the most powerful vampire in the world and a Very Strong Psych as well as Ethan's best man.

Cadogan House is…
…one of four vampire houses (think sorority/fraternity) in Chicago. Malik is Ethan's second-in-command and married to Aaliyah, a writer. Helen is the House den mother. Luc is captain of the House guards and is sweet on Lindsey, another guard and one of Merit's friends. Juliet "Jules", Kelly and Brody (he's an excellent driver) are more guards. Margot is the House chef. Katherine plays a mean cello and her brother, Thomas, plays the violin. Paige is a sorceress who is dating the Cadogan Librarian. Peter Cadogan was the first Master.

Other Houses in Chicago include…
…Grey House where Jonah is the captain of the guards as well as Merit's partner in the Red Guard. Scott Grey is their master. Morgan Greer is head of Navarre House.

Lacey Sheridan is Master of Sheridan House in San Diego and had been in love with Ethan. Nicole Heart is the head of Atlanta's Heart House and founder of the Assembly of American Masters, which replaced the Greenwich Presidium ( Blood Games , 10). Victor Garcia is head of Cabot House in New York ( Blood Games ).

The Red Guards (RG) are…
…a secret organization of vampires who keep an eye on the Masters and how they treat their vampires.

The Ombudsman's Office is…
…the official liaison between the supernaturals and the police. Chuck Merit, Merit's grandfather, is the ombudsman. Jeff Christopher, a tiger shifter, is the computer ace. Catcher Bell is another of Chuck's.

Chicago PD and politics
Detective Pulaski is in charge of the crazed mob incident. Jim Wilcox is in charge of SWAT. Special Agent Mikaela Pierce is with the FBI Paranormal Response Unit. Detective Arthur Jacobs has been a longtime supporter of the ombudsman and Cadogan. Mayor Diane Kowalcyzk has come a long way. Lane Conrad is her jerk of a chief of staff.

The Order is…
…a hopeless union of sorcerers and sorceresses and led by Al Baumgartner. He'll partner up with the egomaniacal Simpson, Tangetti, and Morehouse.

Sorcha Reed ( Dark Debt , 11) is the Maleficent of Chicago, a wicked sorceress who escaped ( Midnight Marked , 12). The Towerline building was the fiasco Merit's father regrets. Logan Hill had been the vampire who had attacked Merit in Some Girls Bite . The Danzig Manuscript is a grimoire from the 17th century written by Portnoy. The Egregore is Sorcha's Trojan horse.

Gabriel is the alpha for the North American Central Pack; Tanya is his mate and Connor is their son. Fallon Keene is Gabriel's sister and dating Jeff. Shay Templeton will be the wedding photographer. Sean and Colin are brothers who own Temple Bar, the official Cadogan watering hole. Mrs. Bly wants her human nephew in Cadogan House. I'm not sure what Experience is, but I'll guess it's a business that caters to any experience you want. Annabelle Shaw is their friendly neighborhood necromancer ( Midnight Marked , 12). Seth Tate, a former Chicago mayor, is the "good" half of the twin being and is still imprisoned; Dominic had been his "bad" half. Regan is his magically enhanced niece. Claudia is the queen of the fairies who betrayed Cadogan House. Emain Ablach is the green land, fairy land that Claudia can see but not visit. Paxton Leonard is one of the gatekeepers of precious documents at the University of Chicago Library. Nick Breckenridge is a journalist with the Tribune, a shifter, and an old friend of Merit's.

Winston Stiles is a vampire with too many issues. Rosemary Parsons was the rioter with the knife. Pham is tapped to help on the boat being crushed. Stephen is the kid who goes overboard. Taylor is trapped under a building, all because of Tootsie.

The Cover and Title
I suspect the man on this cover is intended to be Ethan, but if it is…ugh… He's definitely not the pretty boy I'd thought he was supposed to be. I know, I know, I'm so shallow. It's dark, this cover. All deep grays and blacks of a stone staircase with balustrade rising up to the yellow-lit front door flanked by pots of yellow mums. Merit, her long black hair moving in the breeze, the blade of her katana resting on the shoulder of her black leather jacket, as she stands clad in worn blue jeans and high-heeled knee-high boots, one knee bent on the step above. The man with her is in black as well, crouched several steps above her, one hand on his knee, the other holding his own katana, an elbow resting on his other knee. The author's name and informational blurbs are in white at the top of the cover. The title is in a deep coral across Merit's knees while the series information is below that in yellow against a black background with a yellow outline and elaborate ends.

The title is the key to their and the city's salvation, to become Blade Bound…and safe.

Blade Bound by Chloe Neill
Paranormal Romance - April 25th, 2017
4 1/2 stars

Merit has come a long way. As Sentinel (protector) of the powerful vampire House of Cadogan. She has had to be tough and intelligent. But she is also lucky to have found the love of her life with its Master, Ethan Sullivan. Merit and Ethan are finally set to marry but the day before the marriage all hell breaks loose as a mad vampire infiltrates their House and attacks Merit. Unfazed, but on increased alert, the wedding goes on as planned. But before they can celebrate, Chicago is suddenly under a deadly and magical cooling freeze. Plus even more citizens of the windy city are going mad. All Ethan and Merit know is that something magical is causing these disruptions and it could be an old enemy they thought long gone. Can Ethan and Merit find a way to save their city and their new marriage from utter destruction?

As the last installment in Merit's adventures this book will satisfy readers but make them still wishing for just a little bit more! All the beloved characters bring back their humor and get their just desserts. But along the way the author has masterfully written a thrilling novel of romance, paranormal and high stakes. Merit has finally come full circle. She has changed from the naive college graduate student and come into her own. In this and the prior books the romance and building love between Merit and Ethan is stronger and more enduring -romance fans will love it! I enjoyed reading them support and understand each other through some tough times. Ethan is as usual, the perfect gentleman rogue. His devilish charm and awesome vampire powers make him a sexy complement to the tough as nails Merit. There are also a couple surprises in the story the keep it intriguing and segue it into a new and highly anticipated new series!! Merit and Ethan must make some difficult decisions that make that had my hair raising. Besides the thrilling danger and the amazing relationship between Merit and Ethan, I found myself highly entertained by Merit and Mallory together. As great friends their comrade and the gang's devotion to each other are funny as well as touching to read. I will miss them all and hope the author will find a way to sneak peaks of them in her future books!

Do not miss this last and best installment, unfortunately it will make you nostalgic and you might find yourself re-reading the whole series all over again!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Blade Bound, A Chicagoland Vampires Novel, Chloe Neill

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, 

It seems aaages since i read the first in this series, pre-kindle when I could still read text. I loved it and reread it and the other very early ones several times. Then That happened, the Ethan Disaster which spoiled it for me, I didn't think I'd continue but saw from reviews of a later book that he was back! So I picked it up once more and continued.

I've always had an issue though with this and similar books where the main character is a new supernatural of some sort and yet manages to do all the things that the old, hundreds of years old, others can't. How? Why are they so different? How come they never have all the stumbling blocks new vampires, werewolves, dragons et al do?
And that's what got me a bit irritated, that it seemed like each story was Merit Saves The Day Yet Again * Sigh * and I stopped. Then saw this on netgalley, wondered how the series would end, got approved and needed to play catch up and buy the previous four books I'd not read #slappedwrist

Reading the last five back to back it felt very much as if I was reading the same story, just tinkered with...and that brought back memories of Sookie S when I felt the same :-( that perhaps the series would have been better cut back a few books. There's only so many new discoveries two new supernaturals like Merit and Mallory can make. I guess its down to two sides, group A wants more about Ethan Merit and the crew whatever the issues, they just want to read more and don't care about the feeling of repetition. That's lots of readers, I know from other series some just don't want to let go of a group and will read anything connected to them. then there's group B, where I fall, that wants stories that are believable and different, even though its fantasy it has to feel that if a happened B could result. the early books were exactly that for me, and maybe f there'd been a longer story timeline rather than the just over a year between book one and the last things may have felt that way for me. 

So here we are, full circle in a way with Gabriel's prophecy still hanging in Ethan and Merit's minds. Actually the way that got explained/came about was well done IMO, something that made sense in the way that magic and fantasy can make a kind of sense. That bit of fantasy-reality that has you thinking "oh yes, so that happened, and therefore this was able to come about".

We start this book with pre wedding celebrations, and from there its yet again another magical puzzle to solve, Chicago under threat, calls for supernaturals to take all the blame, humans decrying it's Not Their Fault, let the supes take the blame. They've short memories when it comes to recalling that many of the past problems came about through human greed, and the supernaturals risked much to save human lives.
So much felt like I'd read it all before in those last few books. It was well written, tightly plotted and made sense in the way it played out but....it didn't feel fresh, unique, the way those first ones did. 

There's lots of drama once more, some of Mallory's on-the-fly magic combined with lots of theory and Catcher's voice of reason - I love his character.
We haven't seen much of Gabriel these last few books, he's here but in very minor position, and I'd really have liked all the supernaturals to have pulled together for the Big Battle.
Finally the RG get more involved but once more looking back to the beginning I always thought they'd play a greater part.
I guess I'd just have a better chance of believing things will work in the future for everyone if they'd all been working on the solution, rather than Cadogan house, Mallory, Catcher and the Ombuddies.
A year of manic mayhem, scary deaths, tragedies, violence, disaster and suddenly everyone will live peacefully? What happens when the next issue arises? Will Ethan and Merit pick up their Katanas once more and wade in or claim other responsibilities, let someone else sort it?
If all forces had joined in this last book and been part of the solution I'd have believed they'd have a better chance of peace. Still, its fiction, the series has ended and it'll be perfect for many readers :-) 

Overall the series starts off a five for me, with later books dropping drastically and I guess comes out a 3 to 4. This final book assessed alone though is a four for me, maybe a four and a half, pretty good but could have been better. 

Stars: Four, pretty good but at times felt a little repetitive, and the final solution could have been better IMO. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
 

Its always a sad thing when a series you love comes to an end so Blade Bound is one of those bittersweet books that you almost don't want to read because once its over it's really OVER. I've been a fan of the Chicagoland Vampires for so many years now and I've loved every minute of it. Merit is such a brilliant character and I love her relationship with Ethan. They've learnt a lot both as individuals and as a couple and they've faced all kinds of dangers along the way. I guess it's probably about time that they got to actually enjoy their happily ever after but I still wasn't ready to say goodbye to them.

If you have to leave a series behind you it's definitely best to go out when it's still on a high note though and Chloe Neill has achieved that here. I don't want to say too much about the plot but I'll give you a little hint - there might be a wedding (but only if they survive the hen and bachelor nights first!). Of course bad guys don't take time off for festivities so Merit and Ethan are still up against the clock trying to bring down the mastermind who has been the cause of so many problems over the last few books.

Blade Bound is full of action, there's plenty of the witty banter and humour that I've come to expect from this series and we get to catch up with all of our favourite characters. I'm sad that it's over but what a ride it's been & I know this is a series I'll be rereading in the future. Even better is the fact that Chloe Neill has announced a spin off series! I'm not going to say who the main characters are in this review because it would be a spoiler for anyone who hasn't read Blade Bound so you'll have to investigate yourselves for more information but I'm very excited by the direction things seem to be going. The first book in the spin off is called Wild Hunger and I believe it will be out sometime next year - it's definitely going straight to the top of my wish list the minute I find an official release date!

Blade Bound marks the end of an era that started in 2009 with Some Girls Bite in a series that has seen ups and downs over the course of thirteen books.

I'm always apprehensive to read series enders, especially when those series are so near and dear to me like the Chicagoland Vampires. Not only is it sad to see these characters that I (and other readers) have become accustomed to getting at least one book released every year (sometimes 2 plus novellas), there's an amazing amount of trepidation to find out if the author will end the series satisfactorily. The ends are always a gamble.

So how do things stack up with Blade Bound? Well, I felt like there was a lot of ground that needed to be addressed / covered. Maybe not a lot of ground per se, but some big important things that I know I wanted to see tackled before we say goodbye (or at least goodbye for now).

First, things in Midnight Marked, were left open when evil sorceress Sorcha Reed escaped from her imposed prison. So, it's no big guess as to say that everyone is kind of waiting for Sorcha to make her appearance again. They're just wondering what kind of revenge she's going to enact on those who ruined her initial plans.

Then, there's Merit and Ethan's long-time-coming nuptials. Since the beginning of the series these two have been an UF couple staple. Even through the rough times, they've deserved their happily-ever-after. I was happy with the time that Chloe Neill took to show their happy day on the page. Even though she peppers it throughout with shots of unsettlement. Everyone knows that the lull in bad things happening can only last for so long. For me, Ethan and Merit finally getting to say their "I do's" was inevitable. But that's not saying I didn't enjoy it. If anything, Blade Bound just showed their relationship, and the future of their relationship, growing even stronger. Probably the strongest we've ever seen it within the series. Yes, they've been a committed couple for a few books now, but they've still had their struggles. Here, their relationship felt more mature.

This, then, brings me to the final thing I needed to see tied-up in Blade Bound. Something involving a certain prophecy given by Gabriel Keene the leader of the North American shifters back in the book Twice Bitten. This was a big one for me because for roughly ten books now this prophecy has been looming in the background of all actions and decisions made by Merit and Ethan. That one day they would be parents to the first vampire-born child.

With everything that has happened and ends up happening in the course of this book, Merit begins to question whether or not she would want to bring a child into a world that has seen its fare share of evil and danger.

Since all of these topics are covered within the story (in one way, shape, or form), I didn't really feel like there was anything unpredictable about how events proceeded. No unforeseen twists thrown in as a parting farewell. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't really believe the place for throwing in new twists and tantalizing storylines is in the final book in a series. It is precisely for tying up the remaining storythreads. Answering long-standing questions.

I enjoyed what Chloe Neill chose to focus on: namely, what I felt, was getting back to that core four person relationship in Merit, Ethan, Catcher, and Mallory. These four started out the series somewhat begrudgingly working together. Of course Catcher and Mallory formed their own unit almost immediately while Merit and Ethan took a bit longer to get their acts together. Things diverged for the friends somewhat when Mallory went through her evil phase around the Drink Deep timeline. So probably my most unexpected, yet happy-it-happened thing from Blade Bound was that I was finally happy with the footing Mallory and Merit are on since the beginning of the series.

In fact, a lot of this book felt like we were coming full circle. Yes, we get a glimpse, or even a mention, of pretty much all pertinent events that have occurred throughout the series, but the main focus is on Chicago itself and vampires in particular. Having the vampire population ousted by Celina just before events in the first book have caused quite the whirlwind, and to think this series, from beginning to end, only takes place within the span of a little over a year's timeframe. In that context there's a lot that happens, so it was nice to see things kind of getting back to basics as the case may be.

Overall, I enjoyed Blade Bound. While I wasn't utterly surprised by how things wind up, it was a good read. One I equally didn't want to put down, but also didn't want to finish because that would mean the end.

Now, I know that Chloe Neill is doing a spin-off series. At this point I don't think it's been revealed who the spin-off will follow, but reading the end of Blade Bound gives a possible clue. My interest is definitely piqued. No, I'm not going to even post my guess here so I guess we'll have to wait and see on publication day.

The end is here and I'm not ready for the series to be over!

I have enjoyed every moment of Merit's story since she was introduced in SOME GIRLS BITE. Merit is just really easy to like and relate too and the stories are written in such a way that it was so easy to bring everything to life in my mind. I have laughed, I've cried, I've screamed and and I have wanted to throw my book—sometimes at the author even— several times over the series, but I have never wanted to stop reading and finding out more. It has always felt like everything was happening for a reason.

Following Merit and Ethan's love story was just as great. They are such a strong couple and although they butt heads—often—it's clear that they were made for each other. I didn't always love Ethan, but he has grown so much since we first met him and they both make each other better people.

A lot happens in BLADE BOUND and a lot is concluded. Honestly there hasn't been one installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series I didn't love—even though one in particular made me REALLY mad at the author. No matter how you feel about the series, if you have made it this far, you can't stop before finding out how things end.

*Spoiler Alert*
My only real disappointment about BLADE BOUND has to do with the one thing I couldn't wait for since the moment it was mentioned. After all the lead-up to the whole baby thing, I kinda wanted more out of it. I am glad we got a little epilogue, but I would have LOVED to see Merit pregnant and watch the way that Ethan and all the vampires treated her and her response to being handled like a fragile princess. It would have been epic! I am of course very glad that it finally happened and in such a way that made it believable.

*End Spoiler Alert*

All in all, I'm happy with how things ended for Ethan, Merit and the rest of the Chicagoland gang. I don't want to spoil the spin off news for you—so I will let you read what it's about for yourself at the end of BLADE BOUND—but you can bet I will be reading it!

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

BLADE BOUND was a solid end to the thrilling and action filled Chicagoland Vampires series. It has everything you have come to expect from this series, from humor, Merit's love of all of the food (there is an amazing moment involving chocolate that I want to experience myself), drama, cool fight scenes, to demonstrating the true strength of the bonds of love and friendship. I enjoyed finally seeing Merit and Ethan's wedding which turned out just as you would expect from these two. Nice and touching at first and then ending in a massive fight in the streets of Chicago.

The plot moves fast as Merit and her friends try to stop a supernatural force from destroying their beloved city. I loved the final confrontation. It was pretty badass and a perfect final fight for Merit. I loved seeing a bit of all of the characters we've come to know over the past 13 books. I would have liked to see more of Gabriel and the pack but what we got was pretty nice. There were some story lines and groups of people who I would have liked to see how they turned out or some more resolutions. For example what happens to the Red Guard? There was also the resolution of the prophecy that has been hinted at throughout the series. I thought conclusion was a bit too neatly tied together and not really an ending I really felt was needed for Merit.

While I really enjoyed the setting (I love Chicago), I had to question as the conflict escalated to nearly wiping out a major U.S. city, why there seemed to be no mention of national attention. Surely the president or other cities would be concerned that Chicago is looking like it's going to be destroyed by some magical force. Chicago seems to exist in a vacuum here and in previous books in this series which was a bit odd but really never hesitated to ruin my enjoyment of the story.

Blade Bound is the final book in the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill.

Ms. Neill did a wonderful job wrapping up this series. It was nice to finally see Ethan and Merit tie the not, but with the big day coming closer, so does trouble. Their was mystery as well as action. I enjoyed seeing the gang; all the previous characters come together to help Merit.

I adored the wedding preparations, bridle shower, reception and the whole thing. It was done beautiful, but of course it don’t take long; before chaos breaks out and our gang is together trying to figure it all out and keep Chicago safe.

Blade Bound was an enjoyable read and I’m satisfied with the conclusion. I had a delightful time getting to know Merit, Ethan, and friends throughout the series. It was an engaging series to read, but not one I will be revisiting. I might be checking out the spin-off series; which will feature Ethan and Merits, daughter.

Rate: 4 Stars

Here it is, the final installment of the Chicagoland Vampires series. Merit and Ethan have come through a lot, and in this book, they face even more. Let me say upfront that I thought this was a fitting ending to a great series. Was it perfect? No, but I’ll get to that. The book had the action, suspense, fun, character interaction, snarky-ness, and great writing we’ve come to expect from this series. We were able to see how far all the characters have come since the very beginning, and how overcoming their problems (hello, Mallory) have made them stronger. I really liked that the wedding was a part of the book and not tacked on at the end, and that we could actually get through it without any “big-bads” coming out of the woodwork. Of course, almost immediately after was fair game. Like I said before, the book wasn’t perfect. It seemed a little subdued, had a little less action, and the actual conflict took a while to get started. And, without out saying much because I don’t want to spoil anything, I figured out rather quickly how the prophesy was going to come to fruition and her “test” wasn’t as fitting as I would have liked. The ending also seemed a little too rushed but with an epilogue which I loved. These are all very minor things and I forgive them because I think this book was a great ending to a great series. There is obviously going to be a spin-off series with one/a couple of the characters introduced towards the end (yay!) which I confirmed as I was writing this. If you are a long-time fan, I think you will love this. If you haven’t read the series, start from the beginning for a wonderful series. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-copy of the book which I voluntarily reviewed. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and the store.

Oh its a happy sad end of an era with Blade Bound, the last book of the Chicagoland Vampires series. It's hard to believe that all thirteen of these books have taken place in the span of a year or less... sometimes it seems longer, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday that Merit was made a vampire. It's definitely been a crazy eventful year for Merit and Cadogan House.

We begin Blade Bound with the last minute preparations for Ethan and Merit's wedding, and all the details required to make the event "fit for a Master" of the City as Helen would say. This was one of my favorite parts of the book, and I actually felt myself getting a little teary-eyed during the big event! But as history has proven for Ethan and Merit, things never quite go as planned.

Another big bad is emerging (or returning?) and the city is on the cusp, waiting for things to explode. Between crazed delusional people and wonky weather, the tensions are definitely running high. There are still humans protesting supernaturals and blaming them for the destructive and dangerous events that have happened in Chicagoland, and this big bad is not going to help ease those tensions. The resolution for this conflict saw input from the normal gang - the Cadogan vamps, the Omsbuddies and Mallory. Human law enforcement and military got in on the act, as well as the Order, with varying results. Of course there are always those who think they know better and are too arrogant to take advice from the team... so we had some back and forth between city government, The Order and Team Cadogan. I would have liked to see the shifters step in, and there was a small cameo from the fae that I wished would have been developed more. But in the end, we can always count on Merit to get things done.

While I enjoyed this final installment, I was hoping for a bigger bang. The conflict and resolution of the plot in Blade Bound didn't vary greatly from the last few books. A big bad emerges, Merit and the gang investigate and do battle to save the city. I was expecting this last book to be explosive and action-packed, but it just a nice steady story that follows the same formula that we've seen before. That being said, the formula has worked and the stories are entertaining. The wedding aspect was stellar, and I loved the epilogue (though I wished it was longer and more expansive). Overall this has been a thoroughly enjoyable series, one that I will probably re-read at some point in the future.

We've heard rumors of a spinoff for this series, and the epilogue definitely gave me ideas. If my suspicions are right, I think that would be a stellar storyline and would be excited to get my greedy lil' hands on it.

Don't miss the giveaway that Chloe Neill is hosting on her website through April 28th. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

When we left Ethan and Merit, they were preparing for their nuptials, and forever loving one another. The night before the big “night” Merit is attacked by a crazed vampire in her own home. This is no ordinary or small incident, and it opens up an old problem to the soon to be newlyweds. Instead of happily ever after, Ethan and Merit are about to face a big fight that is threaten to destroy Chicago and all it's residents. Magic is a fickle lady and Mallory along with her cute as ever hubby Catcher come charging in for the rescue. What better way to close out this series than to have Merit fight side by side with her bestie witch Mallory? As Cadogan House prepares for battle, they are pleasantly surprised who comes out of the wood works to help. All the while, Ethan and Merit struggle with Gabriel's vision of them baring a child. Without a gleam of hope of that ever happening, they must face the reality that the prophecy Gabriel once told them would never come to pass, and that they may not survive this new threat.

Coming in knowing this was going to be the last book, every sentimental scene I read had me in tears. Sharing the special moments between friends, and lovers, ones that I will never read about anymore felt like home but had me on edge knowing we were going to part ways. The story line and plot were well done with wrapping up the series, the ending fell flat for me as far the battle. The build up to the challenge was so gripping but then it just ended with a poof instead of a BANG! But I do have to say the epilogue was tremendously adorable, and I think maybe even made up for the lack of strike in her bite.
**Book provided by NetGalley for an honest review**

It took me awhile to get through this book, not because it isn't well written, it is, as are all of the other books in the series. It took me awhile because I knew that it was the last book in the story arc and I wanted to savor it. So, I would read little snatches, here and there, in between other things, until the story finally reached a critical mass for me and I absolutely had to know what happened, immediately. Blade Bound is one of those rare last books of a series that leaves you satisfied, rather than disappointed and yearning for more. Naturally, there are a few questions, mostly minor, which remain unanswered, but that's a lot like life, not every loose end gets neatly tied off. Of course, I can imagine future vignettes about Ethan and Merit and their friends and family but the main story of how the two of them met and became a family is complete. Congratulations Chloe Neill for doing such a fine job!
Now that Ethan and Merit's story is complete, it leaves the playing field open for further adventures by characters we have barely met or who have only been hinted at. I'm guessing that we will learn snippets about the continuing lives of Ethan, Merit, and the rest in the companion series, but the focus will be on the next generation. I can't wait to read about what the future holds!

OMG!! This has got to be the best book amongst the series and sadly it's the last : ( I'm so sad about that, I love these characters and their antics!! To see Merit grow from a bookworm student to a kick a** Sentinel warrior and Ethan from a hard a** Master vampire to a hard a** Master vampire with a heart and human side and the prophesy came true they had a baby girl albeit so quickly kind of like an after thought, same with Mallory and Catcher's baby. That's my only problem with this story well aside from that it's the end of the series is where's the late night cravings, the evening sickness antics, the driving of Ethan crazy with daddy hormones?? Missed that part. The whole beginning up until the epilogue is action, action, action and then 21 months later...

BLADE BOUND marks the end of the Chicagoland Vampires series. What a wild ride it’s been and while I know I will dearly miss these characters, Chloe Neill has done a wonderful job of wrapping up this series.

As one would expect, this book differs from all the other books in the series because it has a bittersweet feel to it. Merit and Ethan are looking to tie the knot and as the big day approaches, so does other trouble.

I didn’t believe for one second that Neill would make this book an easy read. So of course there’s going to be an epic plot and intense mystery in this book as well. I feel like so many other authors would have taken the short cut and just focus on wrapping up the series, but actually, I think this book is even better because of the fact that it stays true to the rest of the series. Merit will find herself in trouble, but of course, her and her friends will prevail.

I really enjoyed this book and definitely felt the warm and fuzzies when finishing it. It’s sad to say goodbye to these characters but I do believe that Neill has done a wonderful job with this series.

Everything about BLADE BOUND felt like a satisfying progression towards closure. From the humans' animosity towards the supernaturals of Chicago, to Ethan and Merit's relationship, old prophecies, as well as closure of past threats. I was hooked from the first page until the very last word. Trust me when I say this is one action packed, emotional, and more than satisfying read.

We finally get the much anticipated wedding that has been building since the very first page of this series. Sure, Merit and Ethan started out as all but enemies, but the writing was on the wall...and after 13 books I can say that it's FINALLY time. Let me just say it was everything I had hoped for and suited the characters and the vampires well. Of course, in true Chicagoland style, there's plenty of chaos and danger abound in-between all the wedding happiness, and it made for an excellent balance.

BLADE BOUND was one heck of a series ending book. While I'm sad to see this much loved come to a close, I couldn't have asked for a better send off. Chicagoland fans will absolutely love BLADE BOUND. Bravo Ms. Neill, Bravo!

It’s finally Merit and Ethan’s wedding and all they want is for everything to right, which it does, until just after the reception. Now they must battle even more evil forces once and for all.
This was the final installment of Merit’s story. From start to end, the book was great. As with all of the Chicagoland Vampire stories, the story was great from start to end. I’ve loved following Merit and Ethan through all of their adventures and I will be sorry to see them go. I look forward to reading more from this author.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Part of me loved this book, part of me hated it! I love this series, this was no exception. But the part of me that hated? It all boiled down to it being the last in the series! How can I say goodbye?

I wanted to wait and read slowly - that didn't happen. I waited all of a few days before devouring it.

As always, Merit, Ethan and company took me on a wild adventure that kept me turning the pages. We open to the wedding of Merit and Ethan, cue a happy tear. Then in true Cadogan style - time to kick some ass!

High moments, low moments, this book delivered on all points. Tied up quite a few lingering questions from throughout the series. I was very satisfied on how the story and series closed.

Blade Bound, the last book in the Chicagoland Vampires series was more than I ever hoped it would be! Loved the Bachelorette Party, very innovative. And the wedding, spectacular. The Master & his Sentinel have come a long way since their first meeting on the U of C campus. Their fight to save the City of Chicago was a riveting, edge-of-your-seat thriller. I won't give out any spoilers, but one part had me cheering out loud! However, as a native Chicagoan, I was very distraught at the devastation wrecked on my city, especially my lions! And the ending, well, was precious. I am looking forward to Chloe Neil's new spin-off series due out in 2018. Hopefully there will be some mentions of The Duchess & Darth Sullivan!

I'm so sad to see this series, Chicagoland Vampires, come to an end but, if it has to end, I like how the story finished. From the very first book in the series, I was drawn into a rich world of supernatural beings; vampires, witches, shifters, and more. The world is fascinating, humorous, heroic, sad, scary, and sexy. At the heart of the story is Ethan, the Master of the Cadogan House of vampires and Merit, his Sentinel, a fierce sword-wielding warrior who protects Ethan and the House. "Blade Bound" is a fitting ending to the series. Excellent!

I checked Blade Bound, book 13 of the ChicagoLand Vampires series, out from my local library. This was obviously a wrap-up book for a long-running series. Neill is a great writer with excellent characters, but there was so much of this book dedicated to the wedding, rather than action and drama, which is a hallmark of the ChicagoLand books.

A very satisfying ending, and worth reading, although not my favorite book. There was a great teaser for a new book (probably a series) that I will look forward to reading when it comes out.

I just finished all the Chicagoland Vampires and WOW. I was glued to these books. This series is full of excitement, battles with the enemy(ies), heartfelt, humor, friendships, love of their city, food, and most of love. I would have loved for more books in this series.
Chloe Neill rates up there with Laurell K Hamilton, Nathan Squiers and Anne Rice.
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

Merit, who became Sentinel of Cadogen House. What a great heroine, and of course Ethan, sigh. I was reading this book, knowing it was an ending I didn't want to face. The book was great, as usual. The tale with a dragon tearing up Chicago, amazing. But the very tremendous end, is the new series built upon it. So happy, almost in tears, for the ending that is isn't an ending entirely.

Oh I loved this book so much. It was full of the action, love and humor you have come to expect but it also took some twists and turns. While I am sad to see this series come to an end I think the characters all got their own kind of closure to the story and I am exited about the spinoff series. I hope as we see the new characters develop we get to visit the old.

WOW, what a way to end the series. So many twists, turns, and surprises that happened throughout this story. The characters were awesome and the story-line was unforgettable. It's a truly awesome way to end this incredible journey for Merit and Ethan.

I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library after I suggested they purchase it.

Boring ending to an otherwise great series. Pacing is seriously off - 7 chapters about a wedding and related parties without anything to break up the eye-rolling-ly sappy love-fest. I love romance but this overkill.

Fabulous end to an amazing series. It gave me everything I love in a book. Well-written characters; main and secondary. You will want to be friends with them, kickass with them and live life with them. The final few chapters and epilogue were bittersweet knowing this story arc is ending, but Cadogan House is still standing , so we may hear more about our favorite vampires in the future.

I've always struggled with this series. Is it romance? Urban Fantasy? Cute mystery books? The final installment of Methan brought it all together. It was a great balance of all the genres I've tried placing it in over the years. The middle got a little long but I enjoyed it. I'll miss Ethan, Merit, and ready of the Ombuddies but look forward to what comes next.

5 finale stars!! This series is just amazing!! I’m so sad it’s over, but can’t wait for the future. Love MEthan so much!! This was a good one for sure, the final nemesis was new and fun. Let’s go Doggy!!

Another great book in the series. Full of dialogue & action. Such a sweet ending, but wish we got more of the year or so between the battle ending & the party. This book deals again with sorcha, & a few other big life events. Nice end to the series.

I almost purchased this book but at the last minute decided to borrow from the Library and glad I did. Not the best of the series but OK. Same plot different day. My biggest complaint is the cover of this book. If the guy on the cover is Ethan-then the artist has no idea what he looks like. This guy is unattractive and rough around the edges! Very surprised the publisher went for the tacky look.

You did good Chloe Neill. You wrapped up Ethan and Merits' story real nice and tight. Beautiful. Utterly ethereal. There are no words in English to express myself. All the struggles, the dark days, the fights, the near death experiences. The Chicagoland vampires made it. I had followed this series since inception. Including the loss and recovery of Ethan. Those were the dark days.

This ending, the ending (repeat for emphasis), was more beautiful than I could have asked for. Really? Not only do I get Ethan as a groom, we also got the whole shinbang of the wedding ceremony. Then the 'icing on the cake'. Yowza. I don't want to do spoiler, but it is hard not to.

Needless to say, I adore this series, this last book, this ending. To be continued......

I was nervous how the author would end this series. But I was nicely surprised and happy at the very unexpected teaser at the end of the book. You have to read it yourself to know what I'm talking about.