September 20, 2022

ARC Review: Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill

at 9/20/2022 01:30:00 AM

 


In the newest installment of the USA Today bestselling Heirs of Chicagoland series, vampire Elisa Sullivan unearths an ancient grudge, with potentially devastating consequences.

As the only vampire ever born, and the daughter of two very powerful Chicago vampires, Elisa Sullivan knew her life was going to be…unusual. But she wanted to make her own way in the world, preferably away from her famous family. Then supernatural politics—and perhaps a bit of destiny—intervened, and Elisa had to steady her nerves and sharpen her steel to fight for the city of Chicago. Luckily, Connor Keene, son of the North American Central Pack’s Apex wolf, is right by her side.

When Elisa and her Ombudsman colleagues agree to escort a troubled sorceress to Chicago, they inadvertently set in motion a scheme of long-awaited magical vengeance. The city may pay an arcane price it can’t afford unless Elisa and her allies rise to the challenge.

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Disclaimer: I received an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you, Penguin Random House (Berkley) for this opportunity. Beware of spoilers. 

Where do I begin? As a major fan of the Chicagoland series, I had high expectations for the Heirs of Chicagoland. So far, no complaints here. Starting a spin-off of a beloved book series is a lot of pressure, but (in my opinion) Ms. Neill has consistently hit the mark with each book she writes. Since Wild Hunger, Elisa Sullivan has established herself as an individual and independently working as an Ombudsman, rather than relying on her family name and influence. The latest job required picking up a troubled sorceress to undergo Witness Protection, but unfortunately, things don't go according to plan. Elisa, her Ombuddy, and the target are attacked...by a mob of ghosts. Unfortunately, the trouble does not end there. A chain reaction of chaos ensues and it's up to Elisa and the other Ombudsmans to figure out what's going on and how to fix the issue. 

While Elisa has her hands full with the top threat to Chicago, Connor has his own problems. Trouble is brewing among the pack. Visiting pack members are aiming for the position of Apex and have been sowing the seeds of mutiny. Connor is smart enough not to get swept up in pack politics, but these mutineers don't give him much choice. With Connor dating Elisa, several pack members feel that Connor isn't the right choice for Apex after his father's reign. Everything comes to a head when a challenge from the mutineers is issued. Commence fighting!

Coming back to Elisa and Connor's relationship, I feel that most of their issues have been settled in the previous books. They've admitted their feelings for each other and despite their young age (in comparison to their elders), they have a clear understanding of where the other stands. They support each other while they each go through their own separate battles, so to speak. However, this doesn't mean that everything was fine. Their relationship's longevity has been brought up on several occasions, particularly in this book. Despite knowing where Connor stands, Elisa fixates on his mortality. Due to her unique birth, no one knows how long Elisa's lifespan is, but most people assume that she'll have a longer lifespan than the average shifter. Connor's female suitors point this out every chance they get. Eventually, Connor and Elisa have a heart to heart, for which I am thankful for. Communication is key! 

Side note, in this book, Lulu Bell has more impact. In previous books, I thought she was relegated to the peanut gallery rather than a solid side character. Previously, she's been portrayed as someone who was aware of her mother's past mistakes with dark magic and let that fear dictate her actions. Supposedly, Lulu didn't practice magic for fear of repeating her mother's mistakes. This time around, with limited options and resources, Lulu steps up to help Elisa. By the book's ending, the major conflict was resolved and Connor's status in the Pack hierarchy is cemented in stone. With this being the fourth book, everything was wrapped up nicely, but of course, the cliffhanger at the end leaves enough wiggle room for book 5 (which was confirmed by the author herself via Facebook). WOOHOO!



4 stars


About the Author

Photo by Dana Damewood

Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Devil’s Isle, Chicagoland Vampires, and Dark Elite series. She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest. When not writing, she bakes, knits, Pins, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.)

Chloe is represented by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency. Chloe is a member of the Romance Writers of America.


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