12
Jul122010
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Friday Night Bites’ by Chloe Neill
by Carolyn • Posted in 2.5 Star Reviews
Title: Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires #2)
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: Gollancz (UK) | New American Library (US)
Publication Date: April 2010 (UK) | Oct 2009 (US)
Paperback: 357 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Own Copy
Reviewed by: Carolyn
RATING: 5/10 – meh
SUMMARY:
Ten months after vampires revealed their existence to the mortals of Chicago, they’re enjoying a celebrity status usually reserved for the Hollywood elite. But if people learn about the Raves-mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle—the citizens will start sharpening their stakes.
So now it’s up to the new vampire Merit to reconnect with her upper class family and act as liaison between humans and bloodsuckers, and keep the more unsavory aspects of the vampire lifestyle out of the media. But someone doesn’t want peace between them—someone with an ancient grudge…
REVIEW:
After reading ‘Some Girls Bite’, which I really enjoyed and thought was a great debut, “Friday Night Bites“ is a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping to see the characters grow a lot more, relationships moved to the next level, more action. Instead I got a rather lack lustre tale.
Merit has moved into the Cadogan House and is reluctant to leave her best friend and roommate Mallory, not to mention having to be in close proximity to Ethan Sullivan, her vampire master and maker, who she loathes and lusts after in equal measure.
I found Merit difficult to like in this book – she’s quite shallow at times, which is evident from the onset with her rather judgemental, if not a little bitchy, opinion of her gym instructor:
“Although I loved to dance, hip thrusting under Barbie’s bubbly instruction and ever-bouncing bosom involved too little actual dance and too much cleavage. I needed to respect my dance master. Respect wasn’t exactly the emotion Barbie inspired.”
Really? Now, I know that this is probably meant to be light-hearted and in jest but it didn’t give me a warm feeling about my heroine.
I also didn’t get to know any more about Merit than what I was told in the first book – there’s no real background to her, nothing in her past that makes her interesting. It’s all in the “now” and the only interesting thing is that she was made into a vampire, but even the animosity and anger she so rightly felt towards Ethan for converting her without her consent (even if it was to save her life) is now gone with the bite of burger & fries:
“Thank you…because if I hadn’t been changed, I couldn’t eat this incredibly unhealthy food.”
Some of Merit’s snarky dialogue, which should have made me chuckle, didn’t, and what was meant to be funny didn’t really work and felt forced.
Ethan is an interesting character and there are moments when I think there’s something quite special about him, but it’s fleeting. He hasn’t moved on in any way since Some Girls Bite. He’s still grouchy, aloof, and not in the sexy, mysterious way.
The relationship between Merit and Ethan is also static and hasn’t developed in any way. There’s still a fair amount of sexual tension between them but it’s all a bit dull, although the delicious scene in the library nearly made up for it – but not quite.
I really liked Morgan, Merit’s other love interest. He was warm and sweet and said all the right things, that is until the second half of the book, when he became jealous and possessive – but then Merit was kind of leading him on. Flirting and kissing while wanting to be with another isn’t cool and I can understand where Morgan is coming from.
Merit’s best friend and upcoming sorceress, Mallory is being sent away to hone her skills. I like to think of Merit having some friends but it’s a shame Mallory’s character isn’t fully developed and feels a bit surplus, as though she’s there just to flesh out what is basically a fairly thin plot, a plot which contains much of the same as Some Girls Bite: Ethan is betrayed by one of his own. There are moments when things liven up and my interest piques but it soon fizzles away.
VERDICT:
All in all, “Friday Night Bites“ isn’t a great second book. It doesn’t include much romance, excitement or really that much of a storyline – there’s no snap, crackle & pop! I was bored and disappointed. I just wish there was either more romance or more action because in there was neither.
Although I didn’t particularly gel with any of the characters and found the plot to be lacking, the author does have an easy writing style that I like. I pray that things move on considerably in ‘Twice Bitten’, the third book in the series, otherwise it will be the end of the road for me and Merit…
You can find more about the author here:
Books in Series Order:
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard Bitten
5. Drink Deep
12 Comments
Carolyn it's sad to say, but you and I stand almost alone in the treatment of Morgan. She was leading him on. He had every right to angry and jealous of Merit and Ethan. From his stand point; they were having a relationship.
Great review! Friday Night Bites wasn't my fav. in this series either.
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I have to agree with your review of Friday Night Bites. It was not my fav out of the series. That whole thing with Merit and Morgan was just a mess. I think you will enjoy Twice Bitten. It was more exciting. Can't wait to read your review of it.
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Great review! Still haven't tried the series, but I've read Firespell & I like her writing style, too!
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I thought i was the only one who didn't think this book was great, like you i will buy the next one but unless i love it then i won't be buying anymore.
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Hi Carolyn – I loved all the sexual tension and snarking in this installment, and Twice Bitten is high on my list to read this month. Sorry to hear that it didn't speak to you this time around. I thought it was terrific.
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You were bored? Oh no – I hope this is better than Firespell, I'm looking forward to that one
Thanks for the review!
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This doesn't look something that would interest me, but I had to comment to say how strange the cover on the left is. Or maybe I'm the only one put off by a floating, glowing girl?
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KittNLuv – It's such a shame as I was really looking forward to reading this one, but it just didn't go any where. Not my fav, but I will read Twice Bitten, fingers crossed it's better
Bells – Oh good, I'm glad you think Twice Bitten is more exciting, I think this story needs it as Friday Night Bites was a tad dull in my opinion, but then I've read other reviews that loved it.
Aleksandra – I wouldn't want to put anyone off from reading this because of my review as Some Girls Bite was really great. So definitely try this series
Cardnoc – I just hope Twice Bitten moves on and I felt there wasn't really a point to Friday Night Bites – none of the characters moved on in anyway and I suppose that's my biggest gripe LOL
Rebecca – I'm glad you enjoyed it – for me it was just dull. I didn't see a point to this instalment as nothing really happened to move the story along and the characters are just the same and relationships didn't change either. I will definitely read Twice Bitten as I really enjoyed Some Girls Bite, I just hope it's better than Friday Night Bites
Dwayne – It may be just me – as you can see from above Rebecca loved it – so you should definitely check out the series. I haven't read Firespell so can't comment on that one – I hope you enjoy it though
TJ – I really dislike the UK cover too – It's just weird. I love the US edition as it's so atmospheric and looks as though Merit is outside Cadogan House. Much better.
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I seem to be the only person who didn't enjoy Some Girls Bite, and wasn't even able to finish it. I found Merit annoying and the vampires were so normal that they were practicably human. I don't understand what the point of including vampires is if the author is going to remove all of the vampirish (hmm..is that a word?) elements.
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What a shame it didn't live up to the first book. If there's a third, here's hoping you enjoy it more!
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Simcha – I'm sorry you didn't like the first book in the series. I thought it was fun and fresh, I really enjoyed it. But this instalment not so much.
Jenny – I know, I hate it when the next book in a series doesn't live up to expectations. I have the third book, Twice Bitten, on my shelf so will definitely read it. I just hope it's a lot better.
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What a bummer! I was really looking forward to this series. It seems as if there are several second in a series books out right that aren't living up the their first counterparts! I wonder what's going on! Thanks for the honest review! I appreciate it!
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