Cover Image: Wild Hunger

Wild Hunger

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I hadn’t read any of the books in the Chicagoland series, but since this is a spin off it wasn’t necessary. The story was a bit slow to start, but once the conflict got underway the story picked up the pace and kept it up. All of the characters were likable, and the villain was just heinous enough for a starter heroine. There was one minor issue and one major issue for me. The minor one being semi-instalove. I say semi because Elisa and Connor did grow up together. However it was instalove because they went from being contemptuous to hard core making out. But there was no event that prompted the shift in their relationship. It would’ve been nice to have a moment between their fighting and kissing. It didn’t need to be sappy, just something a bit deeper than wow you got hot. Especially since Connor had a girlfriend, who he just dumped again without us seeing any reasoning or motivation to do so.

The major issue was Elisa. She was likable, but her whining was annoying from the start. Her being a young adult trying to figure out her place in the world was normal. Her whining about her privileged background as if it was some obstacle was annoying. Her childhood was loving in a peaceful Chicago. Her parents are awesome and encouraging. She did not grow up in a gilded cage bogged down by expectations. She had great friends and an extended family of amazing aunts and uncles. Her family is rich, so money was never an issue. When it was time for her to spread her wings no one held her back, and she left at the same age her peers who finish HS do to head off to college. So what was her damage? I know that many of the characters that made an appearance are beloved from the original series, but she could’ve used a major loss. She needed something to snap her into reality. Her life is amazing, she needed something to make her appreciate it not complain about it. Also considering who her parents are I had a hard time believing that they had no idea about her “monster” and that she never felt comfortable talking to them so they could figure out as a family what exactly was going on. But that aside I did enjoy the book and will be reading the next in the series.

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Three stars: A book that is mired down in too much detail.

Elisa is headed back home to Chicago after being in Paris for almost a year. Elisa is the only vampire child ever born. She is the daughter of Ethan and Merit, the powerful heads of Cadogan House in Chicago. One of the reasons Elisa ran to Paris is because she is hiding a dark secret, one that she hasn’t even told her parents. A powerful magic lives inside her, fueled by anger and rage. Elisa must work every day to keep it in check. Once back in Chicago, disaster strikes at the peace talks. A powerful vampire is murdered, and a shapeshifter is blamed. Elisa doesn’t believe that a shapeshifter is behind the murder. She endeavors to find out who really killed the vampire, and she receives help from an unexpected source. Connor, the son of the Central Pack Apex, her childhood nemesis, steps up and helps her out. Will they find the truth?
What I Liked:
*I picked up Wild Hunger having only read the first book in the Chicago Vamps Series. I will say that I never felt lost not having read the preceding series because Ms. Neill does an excellent job of filling in all the details so the reader is up to speed.
*Elisa was a kick butt character, and I enjoyed getting to know her. She is a powerful vampire, she kicks butt and takes names. I liked that she was a take charge girl and that she didn’t use her parents influence to help her. She is fierce and deadly. I was curious about the Monster, and I am even more interested in seeing how she learns to wield this power.
*I enjoyed getting to know Connor and Lulu, Elisa’s best friends. Connor is all kinds of hot and sexy.
*I am sure fans of The Chicago Vamps Series will love catching up with all the old characters from the series. It seems like most of the gang is here. It made me want to go back and read the first series.
*The mystery was good even if it was easy to surmise who was behind the murders. It was interesting to learn the how and why and see it all play out.
*The book ends in a good place. No cliffhanger, but some interesting clues are dropped for the next book.
And The Not So Much:
*While I appreciated that Ms. Neill took time to catch the reader up to speed, it got to the point where all the info dump bogged down the story. The first third of the book is mostly introductions and catch up as she introduces characters and all that. The first portion of the book was slow going and dull. Not to mention, there are so many characters to keep track of, it became overwhelming.
*The romance comes out of nowhere. Yes, it was set up from the first pages, but it goes from Elisa being rescued by a hot shapeshifter whom she used to not be able to stand, to her suddenly professing that she might be falling in love with him after only hanging out three times? What?? I was expecting banter and antagonistic meetings before it turned into a romance. As it stands, the romance was rushed. A big disappointment.
*It was easy to piece together who was behind the murder. No big surprise there.
*Elisa’s big secret was weird. I don’t understand how she managed to hide it from her parents all those years, nor do I get why she didn’t confide in them. It was kind of lame.
*This is my opinion, but I felt like Ms. Neill slowed the story down with lots of unnecessary detail. For instance, I didn’t need the wardrobe of all the females described in excess over and over. I don’t really care what they are wearing all the time.

Wild Hunger is a book that I am sure devout fans of Chicago Vamps will love, but if you are a new comer, it might be a tougher sell. There were things I liked about the book, but I found it hard to get into as the first part of the book is a big information dump as Ms. Neill tries to catch you up to speed. The romance was also a disappointment, it was rushed and lacked the buildup and chemistry that I craved. I think this one would have been better if I had read the other series first.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

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I think that you’re either a vampire person, or you’re not. They’re doesn’t seem to be a lot of gray area there, in my experience. I’ve been a vampire person since I first saw Buffy the Vampire Slayer and realized that it was possible to save a gymnasium full of people in an impossibly huge dress and win the love of a 90s era Luke Perry. I’ve covered a lot of vampire ground since then and I’m happy to report that we have a new smart, fierce vampire story to add to the conversation: Chloe Neill’s Wild Hunger, the first book in her Heirs of Chicagoland series—a spin-off of her wildly popular Chicagoland Vampires series.

In Wild Hunger, we get Elisa, vampire daughter of Ethan and Merit, and Connor, shifter son of Gabriel and Tonya. They kinda sorta can’t stand each other at the beginning. Elisa and Connor have grown up teasing, taunting, and fighting each other, but Elisa’s return from a long sojourn in Paris gives them opportunity to get to know each other again.

What they find is surprising.

But they don’t have a lot of time to dwell on that, because Connor is heading to Alaska to re-commune with the Earth and his Pack, and Elisa is headed back to Paris, but first they have to prove that Riley, one of their friends and a member of Connor’s Pack, didn’t murder a vampire at a party celebrating the beginning of European vampire peace talks.

Whew.

Complicating everything is the monster living inside Elisa.

Elisa’s the only existing offspring of vampires, and so it’s easier to hide her little problem: there’s also huge magic inside her. It feels dangerous and deadly, and she tries to suppress it because she knows it’s related to a wicked sorceress and how her mother Merit became pregnant with her in the first place.

Only Connor has seen the monster inside Elisa that she tries to ignore. Will it bring them together or pull them apart?

Told in first person from Elisa’s perspective, Wild Hunger is deftly told—it’s vivid and gripping. I love a fierce heroine, and Elisa is strong and compassionate, not afraid to risk herself if it might help someone she cares about. It doesn’t hurt that she’s skilled with katanas and has a monster inside her. Elisa's relationship with Connor is pretty chaste and straightforward at this point, but I have my doubts that will last long, particularly since the tension in this world is so high already. Elisa is a vampire and Connor is a shifter, and though they are wildly attracted to one another, a lot of people don’t want those to mix. Add to that volatility fairies, and you’ve got a real powder keg situation.

Like in her other books that I’ve read, Neill offers us in Wild Hunger a thoroughly and thoughtfully created world. Though the stakes are always high—we’re talking world domination and peace on Earth, people—Neill doesn’t forego the personal either. Defeating enemies and preventing them from subjugating others to their terror-filled reigns is important, yes, but so are relationships and love.

When I left this book—regretfully—I was both satisfied with how the plot worked out and already looking forward to the next one. I have my suspicions about where it will all go, but since Neill is the author, I know I’ll also be surprised.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

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As an avid fan of the Chicagoland Vampires, I was super excited about this book! First off, I definitely recommend reading the other series in full as well as book 13.5 Slaying It (a novella of an adventure during Merit's pregnancy with Elisa).

So, some twenty odd years have passed. Elisa is all grown up, so is Connor (and Catcher and Mallory's daughter Lulu). Elisa has returned to Chicago after leaving for Paris to finish school and on a quest to find herself. As the only person ever 'born' a vampire and as Ethan and Merit's kid, it hasn't always been easy. Plus, she's never told anyone but Connor about the dark magical secret that dwells inside her.

Neill does what she does best. She's built an intriguing narrative rife with romance, action, adventure and tension (both political and inter-species). I'm really looking forward to future books to see how the characters develop and what is in store for Chicago!

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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I felt like Wild Hunger follows the same theme and story arc as Chicagoland Vampires. Someone attacks a vampire, and it’s a mad dash to not only find the killer, but figure out what their master plan is and stop them before it’s too late. One thing that I really liked about this story was probably the romance element between Elisa and Connor (the shifter prince and her childhood annoyance). They are reunited in this story and while they bicker and argue a lot, you can clearly tell that Connor always has an eye on Elisa and always has her back. I’m surprised it took the girl so long to figure it out.

This story not only had a budding romance, but there was a lot of action. Between the attack in France and the attacks in Chicago, there was never really a dull moment in the story. I really liked that the author didn’t skip over the fight scenes. There’s a lot of turmoil between the houses and species of this world, and I’m glad that we not only got to see the tension but we witnessed the chaos that is caused by all the prejudices.

Wild Hunger is a great start to a new generation of Chicagoland characters. I absolutely loved Connor, and I really liked Elisa’s character. Most times I find heroines reckless or annoying, but she was neither. She understood the position she was in and tried to do all that she could to solve a deep-rooted problem. I also really appreciate that there wasn’t any cliffhangers. We’re left knowing that there is more to these character’s story, but no one is left dangling from a cliff, or battling the clutches of death before the book ends. Which, I don’t know about you, but that really bothers me. We get a nice beginning, middle, and end to the story with the understanding that their story has just begun.

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I absolutely loved this book so much! I'm new to the Chicagoland universe, but it is safe to say that I'm now determined to binge earlier works in this world. Elisa is the only ever born vampire and she's blossoming into her own person. She's intelligent, loyal, and full of determination. Seeing her character arc was an absolute joy because she grew so much in this book.
Connor is her childhood friend and a Pack shifter, next in line to lead the Pack. They bicker and might look like they're at odds from time to time but Connor has taken it upon himself to always have Elise's back as one of the few people aware of just how unique she truly is.
The book sets up a slow burn romance between these two and I'm dying for more. There is mystery and intrigue. A decent amount of action and fight scenes. Elise has a friend to protect and a murder to solve.
If you're a fan of urban fantasy you won't be able to help falling in love with Wild Hunger!

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Wild Hunger is a spin-off of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series. Although you don’t have to read that series to enjoys this one, it would be helpful to have the background stories from the original series to draw from. This series is written like the original and has many of the same players. This time the series is written about Elisa and Connor. Elisa is the vampire daughter of the Cadogan Master, Ethan and his Sentinel, Merit. Connor is the son of Pack Leader, Gabriel and its future Pack King. Having grown up together, Elisa and Connor find themselves thrown together again after an assignation of a diplomat by one of Connors pack members. Elisa knows that he is innocent but Cadogan house has made a promise to the City of Chicago that they will not interfere in any investigations. So Elisa strikes out on her own with the help of Connor as they work to find out who is behind the assassination and why.

This new adult paranormal book series is recommended for those that like the genre and a must for those who read the original series and didn’t want it to end.

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3.5 stars!
I read this as a standalone book but it is a spin-off from the Chicagoland series. I felt I was missing a little background here and there but nothing that would stop me from enjoying this new series.
This is a world were humans, vampires, shifters, faeries, and other supernaturals live together...in peace. A peace they worked very hard to get. Who doesn't want to read about a world were all those things exist? It felt like a very possible world, one that I would want to be in or at least visit.
I enjoyed the tension between characters. I enjoyed finding out how the different sups interacted and treated other sups.
The beginning of this book felt a bit slow to me but it eventually picked up a nice pace and became an action packed butt kicking adventure! I will probably check out the second one in this series just to see where it goes because from just this one I can't tell whether I'm interested in the whole series or not. I need more information to go by.

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Wild Hunger is a spin off or second generation of the Chicagoland Vampires Series.

Elisa Sullivan has escaped Chicago to Study in Paris, partly for an education and partly to slip away from the notoriety for being the first child ever born to vampires. Her Parents, Merit and Ethan Sullivan are the focus of the original series and this is the first book in the Heirs of Chicagoland, which introduces us to Elisa, as well as Lulu the daughter of a very powerful witch, and Connor the son of the Apex to the Shifters.

The storyline starts with a literal bang and a then a jump, when Elisa is forced into the conflict between house and countries, on the Eve of a trip home to attend a peace conference, hosted by her parents, Once she arrives home she is faced with one challenge after another, some personal and some public.

A friend is accused of murder, peace talks are side tracked and there are some not so friendly fae on the loose.. Elisa and Conner must make choices between loyalty and friendship to save Chicago and themselves.

If you were a fan of the original series, you'll feel right at home, even though twenty years have passed, somethings have changed but the characters are the same. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading the original series you can still start here. There are lots of references to prior battles and characters but there are also enough details given that you won't be lost. But I do suggest to pick them up as soon as you can so you can truly enjoy this book. Chloe Neill knows how to write action but the romance, friendship and loyalty still shine through. Strong and smart female leads with some violence but an interesting read for most any age.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy for an honest review.

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As the only vampire child ever born, some believed Elisa Sullivan had all the luck. But the magic that helped bring her into the world left her with a dark secret. Shifter Connor Keene, the only son of North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene, is the only one she trusts with it. But she's a vampire and the daughter of a Master and a Sentinel, and he's prince of the Pack and its future king.
I LOVED this book!! I absolutely loved all the Chicagoland Vampire books (which is rare for me to like so many books about the same characters) and was sad when their story was over. So when I saw this, the first in Chloe Neil’s spin-off series, I was really excited. The author does a great job of introducing some new characters while still allowing us to see the characters we’ve always loved. Right from the beginning of this book, the introduction of Elisa gives you a good idea at her personality. As you follow her more through the story, you really feel bad for everything she is holding in. I can’t wait to read the next book! I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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A new connected series from the creator of the Chicagoland Vampire series. Elisa is the only vampire born of vampire parents. She returns to Chicago after four years in Paris and faces demons within and in town. ARC from Net Galley.

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Shifters and Fae and Vampires Oh my Chloe Neill! haha

This book ended up on my radar when a few friends recommended the Chicagoland Vampire series to me recently. Then I noticed Wild Hunger was being released and it was a ‘spin off’, so I decided to give it a shot.

I was provided this ARC by Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So let’s get it started!

Wild Hunger is set around 20ish years after the closure of the Chicagoland Vampire series.
If you’re curious on how many books the series is, it’s 10. Ten books to get you here… OR you can start here. (I said it…. hahahha)
This book is a spin off and you can absolutely read it out of order BUT, you will have spoilers of the original series as you’re later in the same timeline. For me, this is not a big deal as I like reading backgrounds and will go back and read to get the full history.

This novel follows Elisa Sullivan, who is the child of the main characters from the original series and also the only known ‘born’ vampire. (aka she wasn’t made but birthed, and it’s a big deal) The story starts with Chloe Neill developing the back story of Elisa, her relationship to the main man, and also how she’s ‘struck out on her own’ from the family name.


“My smart and kind and beautiful girl.” He liked to say that, had been saying it for years, and had always put “beautiful” last. Whether it was true or not, he’d tell me it was the least important of the three. “You are smart,” he’d say. “You should be kind. And if you are, you’ll always be beautiful.”
― Chloe Neill, Wild Hunger

Wild Hunger was a bit slow to start. I understand the background and foundation needed to be built for the series but for the first 20% of the book, I was struggling to understand where we were going. Some things were hinted but nothing was connected fully. However, about 35% into the book you finally get the witty banter, the introduction of important side characters, and the love interest. This all GREATLY helped to start the plot moving.

Chloe Neill has given us an awesome main character and Elisa is super kick booty (keeping it PG here), along with the people she hangs with. Conner, our main man, is very supportive actually. His character, when introduced, even came off as more mature to me than Elisa’s and I liked that. I liked that a lot. Conner is fun, protective, and logical. I may even like him more than Elisa…. my favoritism for side characters strikes again. LOL *shrug*~ We also have Lulu! I like the idea of Lulu’s character and I hope to see more of her in later books. I need more insight and character development.

From page one of the book, there is a lot of political talk about the vampire hierarchy and I don’t mind it too much but it does come into play in almost every single chapter. Wild Hunger is very much a ‘set up’ book and is good for starting a new series but did leave me a bit wanting.

Overall, this book was a quick read and prepares the audience for a new series in the CLV story. It was enjoyable, had good action, and I will read book two when it’s released before deciding how I feel over all about the series.

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Character Development: 3 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Writing: 3 Stars
I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys paranormal romance and fantasy. Chloe Neill has provided a great foundation and lift off for her next series.

Happy reading!!

~Ash

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This was awesome!

Looking at this title you see that it's actually a spinoff of another series, but have no fear, you don't need to have read the other before jumping into this. Chloe Neill did an amazing job of giving you enough information about what and who was in the Chicagoland Vampire series to understand what is going on here with Elisa Sullivan and the people of her world.

I'll just be honest, I fell for this world and it's vampires, shifters, fairies and every other paranormal creature you can think of. The action was great. We're left with some questions about Elisa and what's going on with her, and what's going on with her and Connor, but not enough to make you mad. The touch of romance wasn't too much, but gave just enough to make me smile :)

I'm going to have to go back and read the original series. Soon. That's how much I enjoyed this!

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Wild Hunger is the first book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, is a spinoff of Chicagoland Vampires. I admit that I have been eagerly anticipating this book as I was totally sad that the original Chicagoland was ending. It's so hard to believe that the entire series had taken place in approximately a year... and now here we are about 20 years in the future.

Elisa Sullivan, the daughter of Cadogan House vampires Ethan and Merit Sullivan, is all grown up. I actually had to go back and re-read the epilogue of Blade Bound, just so I could remember the details about Elisa's birth and early days. I was quite surprised to learn that she was living in Paris, but I respected her decision to get out and find herself, and be independent of her parents and family legacy. As the only natural vampire ever born, Elisa is more of a mystery than anyone knows, including Merit and Ethan. So we see Elisa struggling a lot with herself and inner demons, so to speak. I thought this was an interesting aspect to the story, but it also made me impatient for her to accept herself for what she is, and also to communicate with her family about it. The struggle was reminiscent of Merit in the early days, when she was fighting with her inner vampire. (If I am remembering that correctly and not thinking of another book, but I could have sworn Merit had a similar issue.) So I hope to see some mother-daughter bonding over this secret at some point. But Elisa is a good heroine, who is still coming into her own. I look forward to seeing her mature, improve her fighting skills, and take care of Chicago in the future.

Much like Gabriel, I was totally gaga for Conner Keene. It appears that he is going to be our love interest in this series, and he is a solid good pick. He has that animal magnetism and playboy charm, but is also fierce and protective. I am totally excited to have him be a main character in this series, as I felt like I was always wanting more of Gabriel in the earlier books. The only problem that I had was that I wasn't feeling much chemistry between Elisa and Conner. Their interactions seemed stiff and there was just something missing - so it came off as forced at times. Hopefully this will be remedied in the future.

The plot followed a similar formula as the Chigacoland Vampires books. There is a big bad that is a threat to the city, and our main characters will need to root it out and destroy it. We have an all new cast of ombudsmen, plus our Chicagoland Heirs, who work together to complete the task. I liked seeing Elisa and Lulu together, and think they will have a fun friendship that will add a nice element to the series. (Lulu is Catcher and Malorie's daughter if your memory is fuzzy.) And I'm very intrigued by one of the pack members, Riley Sixkiller. I hope he features prominently in future books as well. But it was also excellent to have our favorite Cadogan House vamps making appearances, and Ethan and Merit still having parts to play as well. I think I would have been disappointed if this book took place elsewhere and our favorites were only in the periphery.

Oh yeah... what the heck are Autos? I think they are automated cars that are something like Uber (with no driver)... but I don't feel like they were ever explained. Unless I missed it. It was one of the little details that stuck out to me.

Overall, this was a good start to the spinoff series, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing the Heirs in action. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

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This is the first paranormal book in the “Heirs of Chicagoland” series and is a spin off the “Chicagoland Vampires” series. I highly recommend starting with the Chicagoland Vampire series as Wild Hunger builds off that world and reveals spoilers from that series. I was thrilled when I learned that the author was creating a series for Elisa Sullivan - the now grown up child of Ethan and Merit.

This book has it all - vampires, shifters, fairies, sorcerers as well as political intrigue, murder, suspense, magic, and a potential romantic relationship between Elisa and another character.

This is a fast-paced, full length novel that keeps you entertained right until the very end. The European vampires are entering peace talks and are in Chicago. While at a celebration at Cadogan’s house, one the delegates is murdered and a shifter friend is found, confused holding the knife. I enjoyed reading how the story unfolded. There were many things at play. Who or which supernatural beings performed the murder? Why are the Fae suddenly acting so odd?

Elisa is a strong character who loves her friends fiercely and wants the violence to stop and have peace. She is battling an inner demon - one that powerful and scares her. Connor is a hot, sexy alpha member of the wolf pack that you cannot help, but love. Lulu, Catcher and Mallory’s daughter, is Elisa’s quirky best friend. All the characters were well developed and I am looking forward to seeing them in the future books. There were some short scenes with Merit and Ethan, which I loved, but I would have liked to have read some with Mallory and Catcher.

I received this book through Netgalley and I voluntarily leave this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I [mostly] loved the Chicagoland Vampires series so I was pretty intrigued and excited for this spin-off featuring the "heirs" of all of our favorite characters from that series. That being said, maybe it's too soon? I don't know but this book had all the things I didn't love about the series - a bit cheesy, over the top and hard to follow the minutiae. I will keep reading to see if it improves because I know the capability of this author and these subjects and there was enough of a spark of an idea that could work. But his first book wasn't quite the bang I was hoping for . . .

Wild Hunger came out yesterday on August 14, 2018, and you can purchase HERE. Let's hope this series improves as it continues!

"It's not a risk-free idea," she admitted. "But what's the other option? We sit around while Riley's in lockup?"

"We could end up dead."

"That's true for you every time the sun rises. The only thing that matters is what you do in the dark."

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avorite Quote: “Parts of the world are great; parts of the world are garbage. I can’t abide optimism.”

Elisa Sullivan is all grown up and ready to take her place in the world, but as the princess of Cadogan House and the only vampire child born to two powerful vampire parents, she has a lot to live up to. After spending the last few years going to school in Paris, Elisa is home to take part in a worldwide vampire summit on peace. When murder and mayhem rocks the summit, Elisa and her nemesis, Connor Keane, prince of the North American Central Pack and it’s future alpha, have to find a way to sort through their feelings for one another to get to the bottom of who or what wants to start a supernatural war in Chicago. Love, family, obligation, and honor are powerful motivators…and sometimes only one will be allowed to triumph.

Adventure is the name of the game in Neill’s latest release. Wild Hunger is a spin-off of her Chicagoland series; featuring the next generation of vamps, sorcerers, and shifters that make up Chicago’s supernatural population. Fans will remember at the end of Blade Bound, Merit was pregnant with Elisa. Slaying It is a small bridge between BB and this story. Wild Hunger opens 23 years later with a fully grown Elisa. We get some mild background information on her childhood though the focus here is on Elisa all grown up and ready for the next chapter in her life. A chapter that will not only test her mettle as a Sentinel but as a daughter, a vampire, and a monster.

“We all carry expectations […] Sometimes our own, sometimes others.”

A steady hand and inviting energy keeps the pace flowing as Neill sets the stage for the arc. The world building marries with well with the original though I felt some aspects were repetitive as Neill strives to keep this series and its characters from becoming copies of Merit and Ethan. The action, adventure, antagonism, and the usual magic infused chaos and mayhem certifies this as a Chloe Neill story.

Told in the first person, Elisa gives readers an inside look as to what Chicago and the Sullivans have been up to for the past 23 years. A combination of Merit and Ethan, she is strong and steady with her father’s quiet intellect and political savviness and her mother’s fighting skills and playfulness. Chosen to be a Sentinel for her house, like her mother, she strives to move beyond her parent’s shadow; hence the need to go to school overseas. Her family issues play a large part in the evolving arc. The arc is two folds-a conflict and a romance. Elisa has issues that stem from her conception and her conflicted feelings for Connor Keene. Her parent’s (mainly her mother’s) relationship with the pack Alpha doesn’t automatically clear the way for her and Connor. There will be hurdles galore for them to overcome.

This wasn’t the boy who’d stolen my toy sword.
This was a man on the edge of power.
So I prepared for battle.

The mystery and the reasons behind it were interesting though unexpected. Not sure why I expected something more directly connected to Elisa and the House. Plenty of action and intrigue though I get tired of the city always being an indirect villain. The investigation is through as Elisa teams up with various new faces to help her friend. Everything comes together rather easily once the villain is unveiled. We receive numerous clues to the future and I for one am interested in seeing what will become of them all. Gabriel Keene and his prophecies. Goodness, I am ready to hear it already. Lol But as he tells it’s son-it’s not his story to tell. I’m very curious to see if Merit’s and Elisa’s prophecies will intersect and how.

“We are proud of who you’ve become. But never forget where you came from.”

A slew of old and new faces make an appearance in here for our enjoyment. We meet Catcher and Mallory Bell’s daughter, Lulu. A powerful sorcerer in her own right and Elisa’s best friend, she has abstained from practicing her magic due to her mother’s reputation. Though, that may change. I liked that Lulu isn’t the powerhouse her mom and dad are and that she is self-aware of her limitations. Sometimes it’s okay to be human and Lulu embraces that. Of course, the inhabitants of Cadogan House (and the other houses) play a large part along with a new Ombudsman staff and a more in-depth introduction to the Pack. As with all of Neil’s books, the long-standing relationships remain a solid aspect of this series. The dialogue is sharp and witty, keeping you laughing at the most inappropriate times.

“Where is your car?”
“Outside the gate.”
“You couldn’t park next to the door?”
“I didn’t want to drive on the lawn. That seemed rude.”
“They kidnapped me!”
“We don’t all have to be assholes.”

Old and new enemies come out to play as Elisa discovers that she not only has her own, she has inherited also some from her parents.

The ending wraps up the conflict with a bang while giving us with plenty to think about until the next book, TBA. Regardless of some first book problems, I like it overall. I do miss the humanity that her mother possesses which was a lovely foil against the world and Ethan. Elisa has potential though; along with a delightfully developed sense of snark and Lulu. I look forward to watching Neill draw it out as Elisa struggles to find her place in the world and make peace with herself.

Grade: B-

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Chloe Neill’s WILD HUNGER (Heirs of Chicagoland #1) is an amazing spin-off of the Chicagoland Vampires series. I love that this series is about the kids from the Chicagoland Vampire series. I also love that the parents are still included in the new series. Elisa Sullivan is the only vampire to be born. Wolf shifter, Connor Keene, is the son of the North American Central Pack Apex. The two team up to try to stop a supernatural dispute after a vampire diplomate is murdered.

Chloe Neill did a commendable job with this first book to the series. The plot is perfect and skillfully executed. The characters are unique and well developed. They have personal and professional issues to deal with. The chemistry between Elisa and Connor was entertaining. Their parents are good friends, so they hung out as children, frequently getting into fights. They hadn’t seen each other in four years. It was amusing watching their relationship progress. I love that Lulu Bell is Elisa’s best friend, just like Mallory was Merit’s

WILD HUNGER was exciting from start to finish. I’m really looking forward to following this series. While you do not have to read the Chicagoland Vampire series to follow this story, I do recommend the series. Having read the series, I already felt invested in the characters. I also, appreciate what Elisa was going through because of how her birth occurred. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

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I truly enjoy the Chicagoland Vampire series and this spin-off smoothly moves into the next generation. Though quite a bit of time had to be spent updating the readers who hadn't read the original series or had fallen behind, the author managed to move into the next big threat to Chicago. The spark between the Chicago pack's son and the daughter of a master vampire couldn't be missed. Though we all knew what was coming, it was enticing. Because of the topic, I don't know if this title would work for everyone. But for those who like a quick, spicy read, this would be a good choice.

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“Wild Hunger” is an excellent and fascinating start to the “Chicagoland Vampires” spin off series “Heirs of Chicagoland” It continues with the fascinating and well developed world with the brilliant mix of characters from the previous series and new ones. All of which are all really strong, compelling characters that easily draw readers in and hold them captive throughout the book.

Elisa has a dark secret and the only person she trusts with that secret is Gabriel Keene, who she has always had a sort of frienemy relationship. That relationship adds romance to the story as they both slowly realize that there may just be more between them and readers can practically feel the chemistry sizzling between them, but the relationship has a few obstacles which keeps readers in suspense of just what will become of that attraction.

The smooth flowing plot is fast paced and full of twists that surprise readers during all of the thrills and excitement that takes place during the story, starting with the assassination of a diplomat and continuing with lots of intrigue, unknown enemies, rising tensions between the supernaturals and magical mysteries and battles which ensures that the readers never have a chance to become bored. There is also additional intrigue and interest involving Elisa and her dark secret and also with Lulu and her magic which further draws readers in and ensures that they want to know more.

There was no way that I could put “Wild Hunger” down, once I began reading and I really excited about that because this was one highly anticipated book and it seems that this new series will live up to the fascinating and wonderful world of the previous one. “The Heirs of Chicagoland” is off to a thrilling start and it definitely ensures that readers will want more.

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