Who knew being a vampire was as much about politics and bureaucracy as it is about drinking blood and looking cool? Neill keeps the tension high in the latest Chicago Heirs novel, as Elisa deals with the repercussions of her actions in the previous novel.

I love this series and the Chicagoland Vampire series that spawned it. It is important to note that this is not a standalone, neither a book nor a series. If you want to enjoy it, you need to have read all the books in this fictional universe. Neill developed a vampire culture that feels authentic and it is quite complicated. There are little clues everywhere but only to people in the know. In this book, the plot advances. It is not just a placeholder or a contractually obligated story. So often when a series gets these long books to start to fall short. This is not the case and this series is still going strong.

We meet Elisa Sullivan, Ethan and Meritt’s daughter, this time she is in trouble because in the previous book she turned a human to save her life. The American Assembly of Masters does not agree with the fact that vampires transform humans. So they demand that she submit to a house and take a test. As you can guess she doesn’t want to, and neither does Connor.

I love Elisa, I understand her need for independence from Cadogan, I also understand why she doesn’t want everyone to know about the monster. That would make her a dangerous person and she doesn’t want that, she also doesn’t want her mother to feel guilty. I really enjoyed watching Elisa try to find compromises with the monster so that they can finally live together.

As for Connor, he is as desirable and intense as ever, his relationship with Elisa deepens and you can tell they are very attached to each other. I don’t know how this story is going to end but I would like it to end well because they both deserve it and it would be a nice connection between the Pack and the Vampires.

I can’t wait to see how the tension between Lulu and Alexei will end, I have a little idea and I hope it will be the right one.

It’s always a pleasure to see Malik, Ethan, Meritt, Gabriel, Luc & Lindsey again, it gives me a little twinge every time.

The plot of this tome is very well done, we feel that the vampires are worried, Elisa is an unknown in this world, they don’t know if she wants the power, if she’s stronger than everybody. On the other hand, they all know that she benefits from privileges since she doesn’t want to be affiliated to a house, that her parents will always protect her, that she is in couple with a Wolf and that the Pack will defend her if needed. Elisa is scary but the vampires don’t know why yet.

I’m a little scared of a certain character, I wonder how Chloe Neill will manage to get him more involved and I think Elisa’s problems are just beginning. I also can’t wait to see Ethan and Meritt’s faces when Elisa tells them about the monster.
Quick word: In this book we discover that Elisa is indeed Ethan’s daughter because she is very gifted in politics.

I loved reading this book! I love this series and this world, and I'm still continued to be glad that we're getting this spin off series, of more time in this world, with some familiar faces, but focusing on the younger generation!

And man, both antagonists in this books drove me nuts! And for different reasons. The guy from AAM who was in charge of the mission was just horrible, a fanatic, and just totally unreasonable, and it made me furious! And then there was the stalker, who thought that they knew Elisa, when they really didn't!

I really enjoyed the developments in Elisa and Connor's relationship. They've been dancing around each other for a while, and in the previous book they basically confirmed things. And that means this whole book they were a thing, which was really great. But not without facing obstacles from those around them, mainly a member or two of the Pack. Loved how Elisa dealt with it!

Wow, the political maneuvering that Elise did at the end was spectacular! She played to her strengths, and she worked the situation into her favour! Loved how it all worked out! Though things are resolved, I hope it's not the end of the series, I want more of the world and characters!

This was a really fantastic read, and I can't wait for more!

As if I could love this series any more, Shadowed Steel comes along and drives it even deeper inside my literary heart. Danger is always lurking for this duo, but this foe is coming from within.

Shadowed Steel is the third novel in Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland series, which is a spin-off of her Chicagoland series. And yes, it is absolutely worth reading, so check it out!

Elsa Sullivan is unique among the vampire community. She's the only one that was born that way, as opposed to made. That has put a lot of weight on her shoulders over the years. As well as painting a target on her back from time to time.

Now is one of those times. The vampires (well, some vampires) are out to get Elsa, seeking retribution for the 'illegal' embrace of a young girl. Said young girl would have died without her aid, yet this organization doesn't much care about that; they just want the excuse to go after Elsa.

“I wrinkled my nose in disgust. The person who'd decided the best way to eat boiled eggs was to mix the innards with relish and mayo should be drawn and quartered.”

I think out of the three novels in this series thus far, Shadowed Steel is my favorite. It had so much going on, all of which was compelling and fascinating. This is precisely what I was hoping to get from this series, and I was not disappointed.

I absolutely adored all of the vampire politics that found their way into this novel, as well as all of the other twists and complications that rose up. I know, I'm totally biased here, but I adore an excellent vamp politics novel.

To say that I was impressed with the way Neill portrayed these events would be an understatement. I was delighted. But I shouldn't keep harping on the same point, huh? There were many other parts of this novel to enjoy, including the way Elsa's thought process (I loved seeing her find new solutions to problems), Lulu, and Connor's role in this novel were other significant highlights for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed Shadowed Steel, and I legit can't wait to see what will happen next. I'm glad that this series isn't stopping with a trilogy and instead will continue onward. However, I'm not ready to say goodbye to Elsa and her friends. Not yet.

Shadowed Steel is the third book in Chloe Neill's Heirs of Chicagoland series. I enjoyed the first two books of this action-packed series, Wild Hunger and Wicked Hour, and so had high hopes going into this one. It did not disappoint.

The Assembly of American Masters (AAM), the ruling body of vampires, accuses our heroine, Elisa Sullivan, of breaking one of their steadfast rules. She disagrees. When one of the AAM vampires is murdered, the obvious suspect is Elisa, and she won't stand down until she finds out who is behind not only the murder but who is also targeting her. Fortunately, she is not on her own. Her werewolf boyfriend, sworn-off-magic sorceress best friend and other loyal friends have her back.

I have not read the parent series from which Heirs of Chicagoland is a spin off but have not felt like I have missed out on much. Eventually I would like to go back and read that series, which features Elisa's parents. Elisa is a special vampire, the only one known of her kind, born to actual vampire parents with the help (or curse) of magic. As a result, she is a bit of an unknown entity which makes some vampires feel threatened. Elisa is always having to prove herself one way or another, and maintaining her autonomy is becoming increasingly difficult. Then there is the monster inside of her that she is still trying to figure out.

I enjoy spending time with Elisa, and her boyfriend Connor, who has to be given credit for stepping back and trusting Elisa to take care of her own business even with his protective werewolf instincts kicking in. Shadowed Steel was fast-paced and action-packed as expected and an overall entertaining read. The mystery of who was behind the murder was fairly obvious early on, but the fun was in seeing how best Elisa and her friends could prove it in such a way that would land Elisa on top in the end. After all, just because someone was murdered didn't mean she was off the hook for the accusations made against her. I continue to really enjoy this series and look forward to reading more in the future.

In short, I loved Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill. It was hilarious and sucked me in right away. I HAD TO KNOW what happened since the last book! Has she controlled the monster? Are they going to find out about it during any testing? Are Elisa and Connor going to overcome their obstacles and end up happily ever after? I was eager to find out. The characters were relatable and had depth. I love how Chloe always gives them their own lives apart from each other, while still having a lot of problem solving together. I feel like the main characters are strong and independent. My favorite character was Elisa. Elisa is the daughter of Merritt and Ethan Sullivan from the Chicagoland series. She’s a vampire, but with a little something extra. Connor is the son of Gabriel (the alpha from Chicagoland) and he’s a shifter. I loved his character too and thought their relationship had a lot of great qualities.

This book is part of the Heirs of Chicagoland spin off series. I was truly entertained reading how everyone evolved since the Chicagoland series. From the parents, to the kids, to the best friends, I was eating it up. This book follows Elisa and Conner as they try to take control of their lives from the powers that be. It has vampires, magic, shifters, romance, a love of coffee, and lots of action. The dialogue is so funny that I frequently laughed out loud while reading. It’s definitely worth your time and money! Even if I didn’t already love this book, Chloe Neill is one of my favorite authors of all time. I read everything she publishes! Highly recommend. 4/5 stars.

Note: I received this book as an advanced reader copy from netgalley. I would definitely have bought it myself if I hadn’t.

Review: This is the third book of the Heirs of Chicagoland series by Chloe Neill. You’ll want to read the previous books to understand why the AAM’s Compliance Bureau is attempting to hold Elisa accountable for her previous actions.

While Elisa’s parents Ethan and Merit Sullivan (Master and Sentinel of the Cadogan House, 2nd oldest vampire house in Chicago) are overseas, three vampires from the AAM’s Compliance Bureau appear at Elisa’s doorstep to demand satisfaction for her rule break. Fast forward to an awkward meeting that results in a battle that just happened to be caught on tape. Only hours later, one of the AAM vamps wind up dead and Elisa is now a suspect.

Connor and Elisa continue to develop their relationship despite the issues one might expect when the only vampire ever born (not made) and a wolf shifter make a match. The AAM is attempting to force Elisa to choose a house under the assumption that her Master will be able to control her and also to undergo testing, which Elisa is sure will reveal the Monster within. More importantly, Elisa’s relationship with the Monster continues to develop as she attempts to find a way for them to work together, without anyone else finding out. While the plot seems straightforward, a new stalker has revealed themselves and Elisa’s out of a job while the investigation into the murder is pending. A fun read with enough twists and world-building to keep you turning the pages faster and faster.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #ShadowedSteel #NetGalley

Chloe Neill carries on the Heirs of Chicagoland series with Shadowed Steel. Elisa Sullivan, the only naturally born vampire, has returned to Chicago with her boyfriend the Prince of the North American Central Pack. She is in trouble with the ruling vampire council as she turned a friend into a vampire to save her life. Chicago is the playground for violence as the determination of where Elisa stands as a result plays out. Great paranormal vampire story.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. When I first realized that the Chicagoland series would be spun off into a series about their daughter, Elisa, I was initially reluctant to read them. Often, spin offs about the children of the main characters can be very difficult to do well, but Chloe Neill has delivered, and delivered well. Even as an extremely powerful vampire, Elisa is relatable as a new adult struggling to be seen as grown up. She has had a fun enemies to friends to lovers arc with her werewolf prince, and in many ways, this third installment feels like the end of a trilogy. (Although there is plenty of room left to continue. ) The consequences (right or wrong) of the past two books have caught up with Elisa, and this book is her chance to show us that she's learned control, negotiation skills, and maturity. I would definitely not recommend this as a standalone, but if you've read the series, this will be a fun and enjoyable read.

Elisa Sullivan is planning for a night with friends, even if her latest bread making hobby isn’t working out too well. Unfortunately, as the party is winding down and only her supernatural friends are left, an unexpected knock on the door sets off a whole new set of problems. Three vampires dressed in all black are here from the Assembly of American Masters (AAM) and they are accusing Elisa of a crime- the crime of turning a human into a vampire without consent. Their demands seem simple- join a House immediately and undergo testing. There is just one problem… not only does Elisa not want to join a Vampire House, but she has a monster inside of her that only she and her boyfriend, Connor Keene, know about. Worse yet, one of the AAM is murdered and the blame is being put on Elisa. Can Elisa, Connor, and their friends figure out what is going on and keep Elisa out of the clutches of the AAM?

SHADOWED STEEL is the third book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series and probably best appreciated in the context of the series as a whole. The events describing why the AAM is after Elisa are depicted in an earlier book, as well as the growing relationship between Elisa and Connor and their own struggles with the differences between them. Besides, Elisa is a great heroine and it’s much more fun to see how much she’s growing in her own strength, including her symbiotic relationship with her monster.

I love Elisa! Her strength of character shines through each and every page. I love that she looks out for others, even at her own detriment (which is how she got in trouble with the AAM to begin with). Connor is the perfect match for her as he doesn’t try to overpower her even though he is likely to be the leader of his father’s Pack one day. Their relationship can be convoluted at times, between vampire and Pack politics, and I love the little twist Chloe Neill throws in SHADOWED STEEL near the end.

SHADOWED STEEL is yet another phenomenal tale by Chloe Neill! I love that we’re beginning to dig more into the supernatural politics, particularly since Elisa is unhoused and yet not Rogue either. Chloe Neill keeps the plot twists fascinating, while continuing to develop her characters and her world so that the stories remain fresh and engaging. Easily recommended for urban fantasy fans!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

During their investigation into some Pack issues in Wicked Hour, Elisa was forced to turn a human, and now her actions have been brought to the attention of the Assembly of American Masters (AAM). They’ve come to Chicago to force Elisa to answer for what she had done. Elisa refuses to cede to their terms, not only because she knows she wouldn’t change how she acted, but she also fears that doing so will bring out the “monstrous” side of her vampirism. When a member of the AAM is found dead, Elisa becomes suspect number one.

There is no doubt that Elisa is innocent. So, Elisa and Connor will have to figure out who is behind the murder before they set their sights on someone closer to home.

I was so happy to get back into this series, and I love the follow up that Chloe Neill has taken with the characters especially the growing relationship between Connor and Elisa. It’s difficult not to compare them to Ethan and Merit from Neill’s predecessor series, but I ultimately like how things have progressed with Connor and Elisa more. I like that even though they’re still at the beginning of a relationship, there’s really no back and forth between them. They’re both very clear about what they want from each other and what they want out of a relationship. I like the fact that it’s outside forces that draw potential conflict, and that they have to work together to solve them. For me, it’s where Shadowed Steel really shines.

I also really enjoy seeing how Elisa and her “other half” are learning to cohabitate. I like seeing the development of Elisa acknowledging that she shares herself with a seemingly separate entity, but that entity doesn’t have to be the enemy. Besides, Elisa and Connor, this is one of the relationships I’m most invested in seeing grow.

Now, in talking about the conflict with the AAM and everything that stems from there, it fell a little flat for me. I know that what happens here is a direct consequence from prior events, but there was just some integral part missing to really hook me. I think since the idea of Elisa being “special” – she’s the first born vampire – has been batted around for the entire series thus far, I wasn’t too surprised that we ended up in this spot. I guess, I wanted it to be a little harder to figure out who was pulling the strings in the end.

Regardless, there are a few seeds planted that I’m very interested to see where they go. Plus I’m a complete Elisa and Connor fangirl right now so I’d read a story with them any day. Which is probably Chloe Neill’s cue to throw some kind of wrench in the mix 

The third installment of the Heirs of Shadowland series, Shadowed Steel, is here! Due to events in Wicked Hour, Elisa Sullivan turned a human into a vampire in order to save her life. However, no good deed goes unpunished. The Assembly of American Masters sends vampires from the Compliance Bureau for breaking their laws about turning humans. Now they want Elisa to join a House to be under the control of a Master or be imprisoned where she can be forced to undergo testing until she complies. The thing is Elisa has no interest in being in a house. She enjoys her current status and job at the Ombudsman office. Things get complicated when one of the vampires from the Compliance Bureau, is found murder. Of course, the number one suspect is Elisa.


Overall, Shadowed Steel was another well written installment! I love Elisa and Connor, Lulu and Alexei who are the new generation. We got to see Connor and Elisa’s relationship continue to develop. I also enjoyed watching Elisa’s determination of staying independent and not want to be bound to the vampires laws and be forced to join a House. Leave it to Chloe Neill to have been able to create this entertaining installment that had plenty of action scenes along with the good old vampire politics.

Another winner from Chloe Neill! This is the latest book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series featuring Elisa Sullivan, the only known born, not made, vampire. Elisa has unusual powers she is learning to control and when her decision to turn a human is deemed illegal by the ruling vampire body AAM (Assembly of American Masters) her situation becomes dire. Elisa, and her shifter boyfriend, Connor, work together to overcome paranormal politics and triumph. Great urban fantasy, adventure, and romance have me anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. Recommended.

I have always loved this author's stories, and this new spin-off keeps me reading her work.
Elisa is strong just like her mom and I love it!
After a trip with Connor to a pack function, Elisa finds herself being tracked by none other than the entire Vampire Council after her for a few transgressions. Really? She only tried to save a life and that may cost her hers?
Elisa also finds herself having to make a choice that she never thought she would have to...

I absolutely love this younger generation and Connor, Lulu and now Alexei is fantastic. I really hope the banter between Lulu and Alexei goes somewhere good.
Can't wait to see what this author gives us next.

Recommended Read!

Chloe Neill returns with another installment in the Heirs of Chicagoland series. Well, I’m gonna be straightforward and just say it – I really enjoyed this book! There’s so use beating around the bush when you could be reading this exciting book. But if you were on the fence about this series, I would say it’s definitely worth the read.

It keeps in tune with what Neill had created in the original series, but the spin off has a fresh, young vibe to it that I really enjoy. I love the playful banter in this book. Sometimes humor can be hit or miss depending on the author, but I really felt like the dialogue in this one was really well done. It definitely put me in a good mood while reading it.

I also love the main characters in this series. I feel like there’s a good array of different personalities and Neill does a good job of integrating them all in without making it feel too crowded. I love the different paranormal creatures featured in this series too, so there’s really something for everyone here.

If you like a snarky heroine and exciting action, then I would definitely recommend trying out SHADOWED STEEL. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this month.

I was excited to slip into the next installment of the Heirs of Chicagoland. Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill did not disappoint as Elisa Sullivan finds herself in trouble with the governing Vampire body and a suspect in a murder investigation. Read my review and be sure to grab a copy.

I discovered Chloe Neill late and began with her Devil’s Isle series, so I was excited about this spin-off series to her wildly popular Chicagoland Vampires.

Elisa Sullivan is the only vampire ever born and not created. In the previous book she saved a young human woman’s life and the ruling body of vampires, known as the Assembly of American Masters (AAM) have summoned her. They want to hold her accountable since she broke vampire law by turning a human. With her parents out of town and Elisa unaligned with a house, she faces the charges with her friends and the shifter Prince. It does not go well; they want Elisa to join a house and be tested.

This was an intense installment as a member of the AAM turns up dead and they immediately accuse Elisa. Then there is the creepy stalker who has formed a relationship with Elisa in his head.

Elisa is clever and working to control her inner monster while finding herself, enjoying her friends and falling in love with a sexy shifter prince, but first she needs to deal with the threats that may put an end to all of it. Her friends at the Ombudsman office offer help but have to suspend her. Elisa offered some solid leads and kept her head even as her friends her threatened.

Conner and Elisa’s romance progresses. Their chemistry feels genuine, and Conner is a sweet, cocky alpha who obviously adores Elisa. I enjoyed their romantic interaction and was delighted to see their relationship more defined.

A certain she wolf continues to be a pain in the arse. An elf wants to be friends, and Elisa and I connect over our love of coffee.

The case wrapped up, but I am eager to see where things are headed for Elisa, Conner and their friends.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a good combination of humor, action, and a dash of romance, I hadn't read the book before this title, but the author did a great job of making sure I was up to speed on the main points of it so I had no problem following the story at all. The characters were likable and relatable even though most of them were supernaturals. I would definitely be interested in reading additional books with the same characters.

We meet Elisa Sullivan, Ethan and Meritt’s daughter, this time she is in trouble because in the previous book she turned a human to save her life. The American Assembly of Masters does not agree with the fact that vampires transform humans. So they demand that she submit to a house and take a test. As you can guess she doesn’t want to, and neither does Connor.

I love Elisa, I understand her need for independence from Cadogan, I also understand why she doesn’t want everyone to know about the monster. That would make her a dangerous person and she doesn’t want that, she also doesn’t want her mother to feel guilty. I really enjoyed watching Elisa try to find compromises with the monster so that they can finally live together.

As for Connor, he is as desirable and intense as ever, his relationship with Elisa deepens and you can tell they are very attached to each other. I don’t know how this story is going to end but I would like it to end well because they both deserve it and it would be a nice connection between the Pack and the Vampires.

I can’t wait to see how the tension between Lulu and Alexei will end, I have a little idea and I hope it will be the right one.

It’s always a pleasure to see Malik, Ethan, Meritt, Gabriel, Luc & Lindsey again, it gives me a little twinge every time.

The plot of this tome is very well done, we feel that the vampires are worried, Elisa is an unknown in this world, they don’t know if she wants the power, if she’s stronger than everybody. On the other hand, they all know that she benefits from privileges since she doesn’t want to be affiliated to a house, that her parents will always protect her, that she is in couple with a Wolf and that the Pack will defend her if needed. Elisa is scary but the vampires don’t know why yet.

I’m a little scared of a certain character, I wonder how Chloe Neill will manage to get him more involved and I think Elisa’s problems are just beginning. I also can’t wait to see Ethan and Meritt’s faces when Elisa tells them about the monster.