Book one set up the parameters and introduced the main characters. Here in the second book, the plot thickens. Merit is trying her best to fit into House Cadogan and vampire society, but she is plagued by the feeling like something has gone wrong in her conversion from human to vampire. There's evidence that she will be an extremely powerful vampire when the dust settles, if she can survive that long.
Unfortunately there is less Mallory in this installment since Merit has moved into Cadogan House and the women are no longer room mates. They have also had a major spat, which has yet to be resolved by book's end. There's also less Catcher, not entirely bad in my view. The current set of problems leads to Merit returning to interaction with her family and the elite society that she left behind. Ethan gets to accompany her as her plus one and he finally gets to see first hand why Merit separated herself from her father. Ethan is still (understandably?) ambivalent about his relationship to Merit. Is he her House master and boss, or does he want something more intimate? He runs hot and cold, leaving Merit in a confusing spot. Is she free to pursue Morgan? Has she been ordered to? Does she even want to? It seems like she needs to settle the Ethan question before she can figure out where her romantic life will land.
We also get our first peek at shapeshifters here. The Grand Poobah has arrived in Chicago to head up a major meeting of shifters. The book ends with a couple of opaque comments from him that promise another re-evaluation of Merit's status. It's obvious that he is a Force to be reckoned with and I look forward to see what Neill does with him. (He couldn't be more opposite to Patricia Briggs’ Marrock, Bran, if he tried!)
This series is fun and fast. In two books a lot of ground has been covered, the plot moving at a spritely pace. Ideal urban fantasy in my opinion.
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