Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

All vampires except the Head Honchos are allowed only a single name. Which may prove my long held theory, that Prince is a inhumanly sexy beast. Heard a lot of squeeing to this books awesome around the net, which of course makes me  highly skeptical lol ,but I picked it up anyway cause I loves me some vamps.

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me. Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced theirexistence to the world-and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker... and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead. Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four hundred year old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude-and servitude. Right... But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches? My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war-and there will be blood...

Let's set the mood, shall we. Little Red Riding Hood was skipping *tra la la la la* through the forest, on her way to Granny's house. She was enjoying the warm summer day so much, that she didn't notice a dark shadow approaching out of the forest behind her. Then the wolf pops out, and well you know the rest: Nana in mah bellay, cross dressing, & the woodsman gets medieval."

 For Our purposes Red is named Merit and she's a grad student. Walking, with no concern for her safety, through the campus at night. Then all of a sudden she's grabbed by a vampire, who tears into her neck like a jelly doughnut then runs away. As she's losing her life and red stuff all over the pavement; 2 men appear commenting on how purdy M is. Next thing you know, one of them is murmuring for her to be still while he laps at her wound like a hungry kitten. Mer wakes up 3 days later of the pale fanged persuasion and is not amused. Instead of cross-dressing etc. , we'll substitute in stubborn reluctance, sexual tension, and vamp cloak and dagger drama.

 In every vamp story the setup is different, here's what M's workin' with. There are 12 vampires houses. Three of which are in Chicago: Navarre, Cadogan, & Grey. Any vampire outside of this house system is a rogue and beneath reproach. Each of these houses has a liege/boss and is only able to "turn" 12 fledglings a year. So it's a huge deal & a great honor to be chosen. Vamps still eat regular food and blood is more a needed weekly vitamin + tasty treat then meal. With home blood bank delivery just a call away none of the houses feed directly from the source anymore; & biting peeps is frowned upon as savage and uncivilized. Well 'cept Cadogan house, which happens to be Mer's lot. Add to that lots of intricate customs, rank, and histories.

 Merit's biggest point of contention is she was changed without consent and makes her in my mind rather bratty. She's quite angry with Ethan for sweeping her into a life she didn't want, though it's not like the other option "dead" has any appeal. I empathize that it's hard for her to give up her dream of teaching literature. Since it's illegal for vamps to teach or even attend college (they've recently come out of the closet and the human world is still at ill ease). Still I spent the first half of the novel wishing she'd woman up and get with it already. Ethan ( her: savior, sire, and head of her House) expects instantaneous loyalty, gratitude, and is more than a little willing to grace her with some luvin'. Instead he's met with, subtle disobedience with a side of pouting at every turn and a firm refusal to be his slutty chew toy; despite the serious lust going between them.

The book centers on, Merit haphazardly navigating vamp society, ineffectively fending off her newly found suitors, and of course a rather transparent mystery threat. Truth time. Did it live up to the all the hype? Yes and  No. It'll definitely appeal to the younger generation testing the water beyond the Twilight Ya-ish stuff or Para Romance readers looking to bridge gently into hardcore "kick ass heroine" Urban Fantasy. But  at times: the tongue in cheek retorts were a bit much, the side characters were too chick lit kitschy, there was lagging in the beginning and middle of the novel; &  found  Ethan was a rather 2 dimensional. On the other hand the world building was well done and Neill solidly makes the first person narrative work. So if the blurb strikes your fancy pick it up, this could be a series to watch.

  Final Grade:

Is everything I hoped it would be and not a pinch more. Better than average, it hit the spot like a tall drink on a hot summer's day. While it didn't quite dazzle me with unique or transcendent content, in no way is it a stale retelling.



Around The Net: 

Wendy's Minding Spot - " SOME GIRLS BITE is fang-tabulous! You won't want to miss this one." Romantic Times Book Reviews - 4 1/2 stars 
Darque Reviews - "engaging, well-executed and populated with characters you can’t help but love."
Monsters and Critics - " Packed with complex subplots, embittered family members and politics, this is an excellent first installment to what should be an outstanding series in a crowded field.