After my boneheaded move of returning this book to the library before I was finished, I hit the top of the hold list yesterday and was finally able to finish it off.A rarity for me, I know, being an adult book rather than my usual YA, but I love vampires and I love Chicago. How could I not? Besides, I can get it at the library and not pay the outrageous Penguin Price. Win win all around.Overall, it was a pretty strong story. Strong enough that even after a week's break from it, I was able to pick it right back up again without missing a beat. Considering the number of books I read, as well as the rest of the chaos in my life, online and AFK, that's saying something.I like the worldbuilding in this one. Vampires out in the public eye, much of the Hollywood mythos (garlic, immediate death in sunlight, having to kill victims to feed) was discarded for this world. And it works to the book's advantage. One thing I love is the silvering of the eyes when they're angry or turned on. I dunno why, but I've always liked it when vampires have something other than a fanged response when they 'fang out' as it were.I did like Merit as a heroine - drawn into this life utterly against her will but rather than bemoaning it forever, she took it, owned it, and made it her own. I especially loved when she kept showing up to Cadogan house in jeans despite their penchant for more formal attire. And I've gotta say it, I loved it when she decided to rock the leather.I loved the secondary characters that populate the world, too. Merit's best friend is a stitch and I loved how 'omg so awesome' she was about Merit's turning and the way she kept Merit from going all morose about it with the jokes. Merit's grandfather was, of course, utterly lovely.Since this is a continuing series (rather than a finite one), I knew nothing would come of the sparks between Merit and Ethan, though I wasn't quite prepared for the way that was knocked home in the scene with Amber. (Also, yeah, quite a rude awakening after so long reading YA...) One thing I didn't really care for was the semi-contrived way she guaranteed there would be a triangle-like element to the series with the "boon" granted during what was, in every other way, a completely kick-ass scene for Merit.I'm not going to jump right into the next book, but I will probably read more of them.
 - )
