🎧 Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill @chloeneill ‏ @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjude

Posted January 5, 2024 by KC in Book Review / 7 Comments

Review copy was received from Library. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


🎧 Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill @chloeneill ‏ @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjudeSome Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Narrator: Cynthia Holloway
Series: Chicagoland Vampires #1
Published by Tantor Audio on December 23, 2010
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 11 hours, 11 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon,  Audible,  Libro.fm,  Barnes & Noble,  Apple
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker–and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately, he expects her gratitude–and servitude.

But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war–and there will be blood.

I love reading series that are already finished, so I don’t have to wait for new releases.  I am sure many of you understand that rationale.  When I accidently stumble upon a book that I later learn is the beginning of a new series, my solution is to buy subsequent releases and just save them until the series is finished or I have enough that it feels like I get to read a big chunk at once.  This is kind of what happened with the the Chicagoland Vampire  series by Chloe Neil.  I started this series around 2010 with Some Girls Bite and was immediately hooked by the amazing heroine, witty dialogue, and interesting mythology.  After reading the first five books, I subsequently started ‘collecting’ additional installments.  I’ve started this reread, so I can finally check this series off my list as complete.

When Merit is turned into a vampire against her will, her entire world is upended.  She’s never been one to fall in line, and now she’s expected to bow and scrape like a medieval vassal, dress in conservative black suits, and give up her post-grad studies to work full time for one of Chicago’s vampire houses.  At least she gets to learn to fight like a badass.  Ethan Sullivan gives off major Darcy vibes which is my favorite kind of hero.  As a four-hundred year old vampire and the Head of Cadogan House, he’s well-versed at playing Master.  He’s complex and dangerous with a passionate streak running beneath his buttoned-up exterior.  It was obvious from the beginning that Merit was under his skin to stay, and the chemistry between the two of them was off the charts.

As a first installment, Some Girls Bite unfolds with just the right amount of information over the chapters as we learn about the world of the supernatural right along with Merit.  I don’t think this book is about character arcs so much as it is about setting the stage for future installments.  There is a definite mystery plotline, but it flows so seamlessly with Merits ‘origin story’ that it doesn’t feel forced or thrown in there for some action.  There is also a very strong supporting cast of characters (Mallory, Catcher, Jeff, Lindsey, Luke) who become a huge part of the series moving forward.  I think because the secondary characters feature so predominantly in the story, there is a lot of great banter.  Some Girls Bite will forever live in my memory as the place I first heard the world ‘snarky,’ and the dialogue is full of witty quips, and yes, snarky comments.

I really enjoyed the twist Chloe Neil puts on the vampire mythology.  The separate houses, drinking of blood, and hierarchy of vampires is well thought out and interesting.  I love the old-world feel of the Vampire Houses, and I get an American Hogwarts-type vibe, but for grown-ups.  Understanding how Merit’s transition takes place, her subsequent disassociation from her vampiric state, and her feeling of isolation amidst other Novitiates are all indicators that she is different and special.  I am excited for how the author will pursue this in the future.

Almost 13 years after first reading Some Girls Bite (with a few re-reads in-between), it still holds its place as one of my favorite vampire books.  I have fond memories Chloe Neil’s forum; the first place I’d been a member where the author interacted frequently with fans and answered questions directly.  I love her detailed style of writing that lacks fussiness and is easy to follow.  I am excited to see where she takes the series.

Narration:

I’ve always read Some Girls Bite rather than listened to the audio.  Due to time-constraints, I decided to try the audio on this reread.  Cynthia Holloway’s performance is well-paced and easy to follow.  She does a good job with the voices, although there are a few inconsistencies with pronunciation.  I do feel like I enjoyed the humor in this book reading it on the page for myself.  I think that the narrator’s voice puts a specific spin on Merit that I don’t find as enjoyable.  In my head, she is dryer and more deadpan.  For this reason I would recommend people reading the series rather than using the audio.

Listen to a clip: HERE

About Chloe Neill

Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Captain Kit Brightling, Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires, Devil’s Isle, and Dark Elite novels.

She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest, where she lives with her gamer husband and their bosses/dogs, Baxter and Scout.  Chloe is a voracious reader and obsessive Maker of Things; the crafting rotation currently involves baking and quilting. She believes she is exceedingly witty; her husband has been known to disagree.

Photo by Dana Damewood.

 

Rating Breakdown
Plot
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Writing
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Characters
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Dialogue
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration (Audio)
One StarOne StarHalf a Star
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
KC
Follow me
Please follow and like us:
Follow by Email
Instagram
Twitter
Visit Us
Follow Me
RSS

Posted January 5, 2024 by KC in Book Review / 7 Comments


7 responses to “🎧 Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

  1. I own all these in audio. but I did read the earlier ones. The narrator for the first 5 is Cynthia Holloway and all the later ones are Sophie Eastlake. Perhaps you would like the second narrator. It was when I was just starting to listen to audiobooks and I ended up getting CDs from the library to listen.

    I’ve read the whole series and the spinoff Chicagoland Heirs.