Erica –
☆☆☆☆
Wild Hunger is the first installment
in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. However, I must inform Chloe Neill’s new
readers that it is a spin-off of the Chicagoland Vampires series, which is
narrated by the heroine of
Wild Hunger’s
mother.
Do I believe the spin-off could be read without confusion by new readers?
Absolutely. But I may not be the best judge since I know the original series
like the back of my hand. I do believe the emotional payoff would be much more
for the reader if they read the original series first.
I’ve been waiting not-so patiently for this spin-off, eager and intrigued to
see what Neill would deliver when it came to Darth Sullivan and Merit’s
daughter. Elisa is everything I wanted and more. Logical. Pragmatic.
Compassionate. Empathic. Elisa is a perfect mix of her coldly efficient father
and her emotionally driven mother.
Now, this is where I believe it best to have the foreknowledge from the
original series. The worldbuilding is explained, but not in an info-dump that
would bore and distract readers who already know the what/where/why/when/how. I
appreciated how thin it was on giving a rundown on previous events, which means
new readers won’t suffer from too much information all at once. However, will
new readers need more information? I have no idea.
Elisa is struggling with something not quite integrated inside her, similar to
how her mother fought her inner vampire many books ago. This added levels of
angst and fear, connecting the reader to Elisa in a human way.
Connor.
We’ve been waiting for Elisa and Connor since Gabriel showed Merit the
prophesy. While this had readers dying to see how it would go down, the
anticipation perhaps made me expect too much. While Elisa resonated with me,
Lulu was Mallory 2.0, Connor was a smoking hot, broody, smug wolf wearing
leather and a motorcycle helmet, they weren’t Merit, Mallory, or Darth Sullivan…
they were original, but the nail-biting will they, won’t they, what happens
next sensation didn’t inundate me while reading.
I’ve read
Some Girls Bite at least 15
times, and the plethora of emotions the book sparks in me can’t be compared.
The first handful of The Chicagoland Vampires are by far my favorite in the
Urban Fantasy genre. Which begs the question, will I reread
Wild Hunger? Probably not.
What was missing for me is the newness feeling of a brand-new series, where the
reader learns beside the narrator. Elisa is the first of her kind, with a lot
to learn about herself, while taking the reader along for the ride, and I hope
more of Elisa’s growth is shown in subsequent installments, because I feel the
fae plot overshadowed the reader getting to know our heroine.
I appreciate that these characters are the next generation, the spin-off is a
series in its own right, and I tried hard not to judge the books and characters
against one another. I was excited to read it, and I am left wanting more,
yearning to read the next in the series. However, I didn’t experience that
gut-punch sensation, the need to know what happens next, or the secondhand
embarrassment I consistently felt for Merit, which made those initial books dig
their hooks into me so deeply.
Vampire politics and reemerging fae are the conflict of the storyline, which is
fast-paced action and suspense. There’s underlying romance between Elisa and
Connor. I’m a sucker for angsty slow-burn, so I’m going to make a very odd
request. Elisa is a vampire. I don’t need between-the-sheets action, but
someone should sink fangs at some point for the titillation factor… they’re
Cadogan vamps, just saying.
Sarah –
☆☆☆☆☆
I have to admit to holding my breath through the first few chapters of this
story. I’ve read and reread the Chicagoland series and I was terrified that my
hopes for Elisa’s first book were too high. Fortunately, this is a fabulous
whirlwind read. I loved it and I think it is much stronger than the later
Chicagoland books.
As Merit and Ethan’s daughter, Elisa is the only born vampire and she has had
to live up to enormous expectations her whole life. When we meet Elisa as a new
adult, she has so much more confidence than her mother did at her age and she
has the benefit of knowing and understanding the supernatural world from birth.
Without offering any spoilers, this book feels more streamlined and coherent
than the later books in the first series. This is almost a simple murder
mystery at times. It stays true to the original world building. I loved the
supernatural politics and the action in the book is brilliant.
I loved catching up with favourite characters from the Chicagoland books and I
loved the insights we get when reading from the perspective of Ethan and
Merit’s child. As always, this book comments on social and political constructs
in a way that feels relevant and important. This story is beautifully written
and I’m already looking forward to the next book in this new series. This
probably doesn’t stand alone – new readers will want to start with Chicago
Bites and follow the story from the very beginning.
Jordan –
☆☆☆☆☆
I read all of the Chicagoland Vampires books by Chloe Neill and loved every one
of them, but they’re not necessary to read before starting
Wild Hunger. However, I do think that having read them made me much
more emotionally invested in all these characters. Also, if you haven’t had
your heart stolen by Ethan and Merit in the Chicagoland Vampires series you’re
really missing out! I was obviously very sad to see the series come to an end,
but also excited to see Neill was doing a spin-off series with Ethan and
Merit’s daughter, Elisa.
I loved that
Wild Hunger was the same
kind of thrilling action with a splash of slow burning romance that kept me in
the edge of my seat. I’m so incredibly curious about how things between Connor
and Elisa will play out! Also, Elisa’s character is exactly the kind of kick-ass
heroine I would expect as Merit’s daughter. And I think any fan of the
Chicagoland Vampires series will have no trouble devouring this new series and
falling in love with Elisa’s story. I was completely enthralled from start to
finish and now I’m completely invested in all the heirs of Chicagoland. I just
can’t get enough of these characters and I am looking forward to read where
Neill takes this new series!
5 STARS for Chloe Neil’s
Wild Hunger
Kris –
☆☆☆☆
I read almost every book in the original Chicagoland series with fervor! I
could not get enough of Ethan and Merit! This spin-off is about their daughter,
Elisa. Elisa was born a vampire due to a spell that Mallory cast. Elisa is the
first
BORN vampire. She has a hidden
secret that even her parents don’t know about, there is a "monster"
inside of her that was created along with the spell that made her. After moving
to Paris instead of staying at Cadogen house, Elisa comes back to Chicago for
peace talks with the House Dumas vampires. The talks do not go as expected as
the fairies are up to trouble! Connor, who is next in line for Apex of the
wolves, is Gabriel's son. Elisa and Connor grew up together and have a long
history of annoying one other. But they're both grownups now and they have some
chemistry that heats the book up nicely. They aren't Ethan and Merit, but they
aren't bad either! The story was a tad slow in spots and a bit too rushed at
the end. But I think I'd be up for what comes next, especially if it has more
on Connor and Elisa.
