Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Item: Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, #1)
Rating: 4
Author: Kate

Posted November 12, 2020 by Kate

Check out on Goodreads | Buy on Amazon
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance
Also by this author: Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, #2), Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, #3), Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires, #5)
Series: The Chicagoland Vampires #1
Publisher: Ace
Source: My shelves

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.
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 know, I know!! I’ve literally had this series on my TBR since… middle school? Freshman year of high school? I’m an urban fantasy and paranormal hoe, so it is quite shocking that it took me so many years to finally pick this up (especially after I bought the first six books… yeah). But then again, I tend to procrastinate reading books that I know I’ll enjoy. Make it make sense?? ?

Anyway. Some Girls Bite follows grad student Merit as she’s attacked and left for dead by a vampire, only to be saved and bitten by Ethan Sullivan, the Master of the Cadogan vampire House. This means that she’s now part of his house, and she’s not too happy about it. But Merit is stronger than the average vampire, definitely sassier, and her rebellious nature tends to land her in some trouble went it comes to the strict edicts of the vampire world, especially as she befriends those of other supernatural bents. Not to mention… she and Ethan have a connection… ??? But my favorite part was her best friend Mallory, who continued to stick by her and have her back after Merit was turned. I’m so here for this!

“I’m just warning you, I’m probably going to be a total hard-ass vamp.”
Mallory snorted and walked out of the kitchen, calling out, “Yeah, well, you’ve got a purple marshmallow on your chin, hard-ass vamp.”

This book really feels like the adult version of the Shadowhunterbooks, The Mortal Instruments, to be precise. But with vampires. Except this was published first, so maybe the other way around? Merit is definitely more interesting than Clary ever was, and frankly, I adored our heroine. She’s no damsel, and she may have been an English Lit Grad Student, but she’s pretty fierce and never hesitates to push boundaries and speak her mind. That said, she’s not mouthy and brash, but intelligent, confident, and independent. As she explores the limits of her new body and powers, she becomes a force, especially as she’s finding her new place without the House hierarchy.

I was so nervous going into this one – it has a bit of a cult following, and I didn’t want to dislike it! Especially because I’ve already bought the first six books ?? But I fell completely in love with how irreverent but thoughtful the story was. It was fun, full of moments with Merit and her friends, mixed in with serious political maneuvering and flirty moments, plus enough action to keep it interesting, I’m hooked. In fact, I’m starting book two right now! It wasn’t necessarily anything new, but it’s fun, and right now, that’s what I want. Plus, I’m expecting it to evolve over the next few books!