I was a little underwhelmed by the previous Chicagoland Vampires novel, BITING COLD, so I went into HOUSE RULES with a bit of trepidation and lower expectations. My general reaction to HOUSE RULES? It was okay. Not mind blowing, not terrible, just okay. I think the shine is gone from the series for me now, even though I found HOUSE RULES to be more satisfying than BITING COLD.
Let's start with the good stuff. I thought the main plot points in HOUSE RULES were really interesting. Cadogan is separating itself from the Greenwich Presidium, the body that governs all of the vampire Houses, meaning Cadogan has voted to go Rogue. It's a decision that emerged in the previous novel and that gets our full attention in HOUSE RULES. I really liked this idea because it changes the dynamics of vampire politics in the whole Chicagoland Vampires universe, and it puts Ethan, Merit, and the rest of Cadogan House into a new, more precarious position. It was fun watching everyone scramble to figure out what the GP might do and how they would counter. Seeing Cadogan behind the gun was nicely different, since their lifestyle and future were being severely threatened.
At the same time, Merit has to deal with her initiation into the Red Guard, the secret group that polices vampire activity. Up until now, the Red Guard seems to have been a convenient way for Merit to get information other characters couldn't provide so it was nice to see her face a quandary about her membership. I was hoping this storyline would bring greater tension to her relationship with Ethan, but it wasn't really a huge deal, as it turns out. I'm all for HEAs for characters but I feel like this is a big secret that should have major implications on Merit and Ethan's relationship; the outcome was a bit disappointing in this regard.
And, of course, I can't talk about a Chicagoland Vampire novel without getting into my beef that Ethan even exists. I wish he'd stayed dead. I admit that this may be an unpopular opinion but it's how I feel. (Please don't feel the comments with too much hate!) I thought the emotional and political ramifications of Ethan's death back in HARD BITTEN were really great and beautifully written and I just haven't felt invested in Methan since he came back. I feel like it was a big cheat and I clearly haven't gotten over it since that was three books ago! It would have been ballsier for him to stay dead (like Kisten in the Rachel Morgan series -- unless he's been brought back to life since the last book I read, which was right around the time the series transitioned to hardcover) and now I'm just not into it. And I think this is a major part of why the series isn't shiny anymore.
All this being said, I'm not giving up on the series just yet. I think Chloe Neill is a great writer and I love the world she's created. I'm curious to see if the non-romantic storylines in BITING BAD will be strong enough to win me back in August.
I also didn't like Ethan coming back. Ethan taking the stake for Merit was an absolutely amazing event - but it is hard to think of a way that he could have been brought back that would have been successful and satisfying. The story of his resurrection was just so badly written. I expect better from Chloe Neill. I can see why she wanted to have that wonderful sacrifice and why she wanted to keep the character but it doesn't work well when you want to have your cake and eat it too.
ReplyDeleteAnd liked that Ethan came back; still enjoying the series too. I've read a few books now where they kill off a main character just to have him or her come back in the next book. And that's ok with me.
ReplyDeleteI was never a fan of Ethan, he was too wishy washy in terms of his relationship with Merritt. In terms of plot and action, I think Neill has lost it with this series. Since I get the books at the library for free, I will still give the next one a try.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are going to keep going. :) This is one series I want to get to one day as well.
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