Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill ~ A Review #MondayBlogs

by MK French

Elisa Sullivan is the only vampire child that had ever been born. She is regarded like royalty in Chicago, so she had gone to get her education in Paris and experience what it was like to be an ordinary vampire. She volunteered to be part of one of the European vampire houses, following their tradition of a year of service in exchange for sponsorship in education. As a result, when Chicago vampires host European delegates from multiple houses to try to broker a peace treaty as the supernatural creatures of Chicago have. Unfortunately, one of the Spanish delegates is slain and a Chicago werewolf if blamed for the deed. Elisa had known the shifter and is aware that he was framed. Trying to prove his innocence opens old conflicts and puts Chicago in danger.
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August 2018; Berkley; 978-0399587092
audio, ebook, print (352 pages)
paranormal romance

Wild Hunger is the first in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, which is a spinoff of the Chicagoland Vampires series. I hadn't read the original series, but I didn't feel at a disadvantage when I picked up this one to start reading. We get enough background into Elisa's unique identity, as well as references to past events in this version of Chicago that likely were the original series' novels. There is political intrigue between humans, vampires, and fairies, as well as the shapeshifters of various kinds. The vampire conflict is at the forefront, as well as that of the fairies, but there are rumblings and politicking mentioned that no doubt will be explored in future novels in this series.

Elisa is a great heroine to follow. She has her own unique gifts as a born vampire with an innate magical beast that rises in response to strong emotion like anger or fear, as well as a complex history with mages and shifters in Chicago. She isn't a spoiled brat, for all her childhood nemesis Connor Keane calls her one, so of course, that indicates from the beginning that he's going to be a love interest for her. It doesn't impede the story here, and I like that there are elements of friendships, family relationships and romantic hints alongside the main storyline. None get short shrift, even though it sounds like it would be a complex juggling act.

As the first in a series, we have a conclusion to the story as well as hints of more developing over time. It's enough to draw you in and keep interest for further books in the series and doesn't feel incomplete. I'm a bit disappointed that a lot of the final battle is told and not shown, especially since we've seen so much of Elisa in action fighting with katanas and fists earlier in the book. She isn't even part of the final battle, and I had hoped to see her help take part in it. I suppose that would have made her too overpowered, and there's enough going on in the book as it is. I'm sure that a lot of this conclusion will still have echoes into future novels of the series, so it'll still be fun to see play out.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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